Bayesian accuracy estimates for diagnostic tests to detect tuberculosis in captive sun bears (Helarctos malayanus) and Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) in Cambodia and Vietnam.

Effective control of tuberculosis (TB) depends on early diagnosis of disease, yet available tests are unable to perfectly detect infected individuals. In novel hosts diagnostic testing methods for TB are extrapolated from other species, with unknown accuracy. The primary challenge to evaluating the accuracy of TB tests is the lack of a perfect reference test.

"Spotting" infection in leopards () - novel application of diagnostic tools.

Background: () is the causative agent of animal tuberculosis (TB) which poses a threat to many of South Africa's most iconic wildlife species, including leopards (). Due to limited tests for wildlife, the development of accurate ante-mortem tests for TB diagnosis in African big cat populations is urgently required. The aim of this study was to evaluate currently available immunological assays for their ability to detect infection in leopards.

Rapid Point-of-Care Tests Using Staphylococcal Protein A Can Detect Early IgM Responses in HIV-1 and Treponema pallidum Infections.

Serological assays detecting IgM antibodies in addition to IgG antibodies have a diagnostic advantage in finding early infections. Staphylococcal protein A (SpA), widely used as an antibody-detecting reagent in various immunoassays, is considered to have a high binding affinity mainly to IgG, although its interaction with other classes of immunoglobulins has also been documented. Using 28 samples from 22 HIV-1 seroconversion panels, the present study demonstrated detection of early IgM antibodies by SpA-based rapid point-of-care tests, including DPP HIV 1/2, DPP HIV-Syphilis, STAT-PAK HIV 1/2, and Sure Check HIV 1/2.

Differential detection of IgM and IgG antibodies to chimeric antigens in bovine tuberculosis.

Recent studies have suggested the potential of innovative serologic tests for accurate and rapid detection of bovine tuberculosis (bTB). Dual Path Platform (DPP) technology has been used to develop rapid animal-side antibody tests for Mycobacterium bovis infection in a range of livestock and wildlife host species. The present study evaluated diagnostic performance of DPP BovidTB IgM/IgG assay designed for differential detection of bovine IgM and IgG antibodies against two chimeric antigens, DID38 and TBf2, respectively, using 662 well-characterized serum samples from M.

Potential for improved detection of bovine tuberculosis by targeting combined blood biomarkers in multi-test algorithms.

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) control programs can be improved by combined use of tests for humoral and cell-mediated immune responses targeting multiple biomarkers of Mycobacterium bovis. To further the diagnostic benefits of this approach, we used Dual Path Platform (DPP) technology to test sera from cattle with naturally acquired bTB in the United States (US) and Spain for the presence of M. bovis antigen, IgM and/or IgG antibodies to MPB70/MPB83 fusion antigen in conjunction with tuberculin skin tests (TST) or interferon-gamma release assays (IGRA).