Molecular and Serological Footprints of Mycobacterium avium Subspecies Infections in Zoo Animals.

Tobias Knauf-Witzens,Ralph Goethe,Ahmed Abd El Wahed,Sören Hansen,Claus-Peter Czerny,Marco Roller,Susanne Böhlken-Fascher

doi:10.3390/vetsci7030117

Abstract

Background: Mycobacteria of the Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) pose a significant risk to zoological collections. Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) is a member of MAC and the causative agent of Johne’s disease. Despite many reports in animals kept in zoological gardens, systemic surveillance has rarely been reported. Methods: In this study, archived serum samples collected from animal species at the Wilhelma Zoological and Botanical Gardens in Stuttgart, Germany, were screened for the presence of antibodies against MAC and MAP. In addition, molecular investigations were performed on necropsy, fecal, and environmental samples. Results: In total, 30/381 serum samples of various mammalian species were positive for MAC antibodies in ELISA, while one sample of a reticulated giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata) was positive in MAP-specific ELISA. Samples from many species were positive in pan-Mycobacterium real-time PCR (40/43 fecal samples, 27/43 environmental samples, and 31/90 necropsy samples). Surprisingly, no sample was positive in the MAP-specific molecular assays. However, two environmental samples from primate enclosures were positive in Mycobacterium avium subspecies hominissuis (MAH)-specific real-time PCR. Conclusions: The results reveal serological indications of MAC infections in the zoological collection. However, the presence of a MAP-contaminated environment by a high-shedding individual animal or MAP-infected population is unlikely.

Highlights

The Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) comprises Mycobacterium avium subspecies avium (MAA), Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP), Mycobacterium avium subspecies silvaticumVet
Positive in the same year, but as indicated in Figure 2, around 4–5 animals tested positive per year, The screening of all positive and suspicious samples in the MAP antibody-specific ELISA
Several publications and review articles have addressed the importance of prevention and control of paratuberculosis in zoological gardens, where the disease can threaten the animal collection of exotic and often endangered species [13,14,15,16,20,35,36]

Summary

Introduction

The Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) comprises Mycobacterium avium subspecies avium (MAA), Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP), Mycobacterium avium subspecies silvaticumVet. Members of MAC are not and species-specific andavium are frequently animal human diseases (MAS), Mycobacterium subspecies associated hominissuiswith (MAH). [1,2,3].orMembers of MAC causing are not tuberculous lesions in lymph nodes and, occasionally, parenchymatous organs [4]. MAC species-specific and are frequently associated with animal or human diseases causing tuberculous mycobacteria and, in occasionally, particular, MAP, pose a significant zoological collections. Mycobacteria of the Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) pose a significant risk to zoological collections. Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) is a member of MAC and the causative agent of Johne’s disease. Methods: In this study, archived serum samples collected from animal species at the Wilhelma Zoological and Botanical Gardens in Stuttgart, Germany, were screened for the presence of antibodies against MAC and MAP. Results: In total, 30/381 serum samples of various mammalian species were positive for MAC antibodies in ELISA, while one sample of a reticulated giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata) was positive in MAP-specific

Results

Discussion

Conclusion