Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in chacma baboons (Papio ursinus) using the QuantiFERON-TB gold (in-tube) assay.
BACKGROUND
Early diagnosis of simian tuberculosis (TB) is vital to prevent transmission of this disease. We evaluated the ability of the QuantiFERON-TB Gold (In-Tube Method) assay (QFG-IT) to detect TB in chacma baboons (Papio ursinus).


METHODS
Fifty-one baboons were tested using the Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) and the QFG-IT. Baboons testing positive, and animals exposed to infected individuals, were euthanised and subjected to necropsy. Selected tissues were processed for histopathology, mycobacterial culture and genetic speciation.


RESULTS
Tuberculosis was confirmed in one TST positive/QFG-IT positive animal and one TST negative/QFG-IT positive animal. One TST positive/QFG-IT negative animal and five TST negative/QFG-IT negative animals were confirmed uninfected following necropsy.


CONCLUSIONS
The QFG-IT correctly detected TB in two baboons, including one TST negative individual and correctly identified six baboons as uninfected, including one TST positive individual. The QFG-IT shows promise as a sensitive, specific test for TB in chacma baboons.
Parsons
Sven D C
SD
DST/NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical TB Research/MRC Centre for Molecular and Cellular Biology/Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa. sparsons@sun.ac.za
Gous
Tertius A
TA
Warren
Robin M
RM
de Villiers
Charon
C
Seier
Jürgen V
JV
van Helden
Paul D
PD
D000818:Animals; D001500:BCG Vaccine; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D008992:Monkey Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D048549:Papio ursinus / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D014374:Tuberculin Test; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*
D001500:BCG Vaccine; D007371:Interferon-gamma