Affiliation:
1. Aberystwyth University
2. ProTEM Services Ltd
3. University of Exeter
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Bovine tuberculosis (bTB), caused by Mycobacterium bovis, is the most significant infectious disease of UK cattle. Badgers (Meles meles) can also be infected by M. bovis and act as a source of infection for cattle. Management of infection risks could be supported by the availability of sensitive blood tests for bTB in badgers. Therefore, we aimed to identify novel metabolite changes for the diagnosis of bTB in wild, naturally infected badgers, based on peripheral blood.
Methods
Using flow infusion electrospray - high-resolution mass spectrometry (FIE-HRMS) to assess the peripheral blood of trapped wild badgers (n = 148) for metabolite changes linked to bTB infection status. Infection status was established by culture, Dual Path Platform (DPP) and interferon (IFN-γ) blood tests. Data were analysed by multivariate and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses.
Results
Metabolite shifts were identified in badger blood samples associated with their corresponding disease status (as defined through DPP, IFN-y or mycobacterial culture). Biochemical pathway analyses suggested that sphingolipid and glycerophospholipid metabolism was enriched in bTB badgers. However, some individual metabolites appeared to change differently depending on badger sex.
Conclusion
Our data shows that metabolomic assessment of peripheral blood can indicate bTB infection status. With larger sample sizes our results suggest that the derivation of metabolites biomarkers to show badger infection status may be possible.
Publisher
Research Square Platform LLC