Use of Molecular Probes for Presumptive Diagnosis of Tuberculosis Associated with Mycobacterium Tuberculosis and Mycobacterium Bovis Infection in Antelopes in Pakistan

The etio-prevalence of tuberculosis complex and diagnostic significance of cytokines in antelopes of Lahore, Pakistan was determined by multiplex polymerase chain reaction and cytokine ELISA. One hundred blood samples of five different types of captive zoo antelopes including Mouflon sheep, black buck, gorial, hog deer and urial were tested. The percent prevalence of Mycobacterium bovis and M. tuberculosis was 30% and 20% respectively. All five categories of antelopes were infected with M. bovis and M. tuberculosis and none of the animals was positive for M. avium. Mouflon sheep, black buck and hog deer were significantly more affected by M. bovis as compared to M.tuberculosis. While Gorial had non-significantly more M.tuberculosis as compared to M. bovis. Urial had lowest tuberculosis incidence and was equally infected by both Mycobacterium species. The levels of IFN- and TNF- were significantly higher in TB infected animals as compared to negative controls (P<0.05). From PCR positive animals two black bucks died later and the histopathological analysis of their lungs revealed pathognomic granuloma lesions. 2019 PVJ.