Developing a Surveillance Tool for Tuberculosis in Deer

Bovine tuberculosis is a zoonotic infection of domestic and wild animals caused by Mycobacterium bovis. The global spread and increasing severity of tuberculosis are due in part to the increasing intensity of human–animal interactions as land-use patterns around the globe rapidly change. This study addresses the challenge of diagnosing and monitoring tuberculosis in deer, which are a reservoir for M. bovis. The investigators will compare the novel molecular signatures in sera of deer confirmed to have tuberculosis infection to those of healthy deer. The study will provide the missing diagnostic tools to unambiguously classify mycobacterial infection status and will establish a surveillance tool for deer tuberculosis. The results of this project will broaden the understanding of the prevalence of deer tuberculosis and risk of transmission to domesticated animal populations, which can lead to improved eradication strategies.