Searching for Diagnostic Biomarkers for Bovine Tuberculosis in African Buffalo

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a chronic contagious disease caused by Mycobacteria bovis (M. bovis) that can affect a wide range of mammals, including wildlife, livestock and humans. Several wildlife species maintain the pathogen in the wild and spread the disease to other animals, creating an additional threat to the health and conservation of rare and endangered species. One such species is the African buffalo, which is sub-Saharan Africa's main reservoir of bTB. To manage the disease spread from infected buffalo, improve diagnostics options are needed for bTB in wildlife. Researchers will investigate signals or biomarkers in the blood of African buffalo that they hope can be used to diagnose bTB infections. This bTB diagnostic test will be based on extracellular vesicles (EVs) – tiny particles released by cells into the blood that carry signals from their cell of origin. Findings will provide managers with a much-needed tool for their ongoing efforts to control bTB in South Africa and species affected by bTB worldwide. The team hopes their findings will help inspire similar EV-based solutions for future wildlife disease outbreaks.