Comparison of Test Performance and Evaluation of Novel Immunoassays for Tuberculosis in a Captive Herd of Wood Bison Naturally Infected with Mycobacterium Bovis

A study comparing tuberculosis diagnostic tests in a captive herd of wood bison revealed significant variability in test performance, with sensitivities ranging from 50% to 92% and specificities from 34% to 100%. While the multiantigen print immunoassay (MAPIA) showed high sensitivity and agreed significantly with the rapid test (RT), no single test consistently detected all infected individuals. The research suggests that using multiple tests, particularly those incorporating multiple antigens, can optimize detection of bovine tuberculosis in bison, though even comprehensive testing may fail to identify all infected animals.

Himsworth, C. G., Elkin, B. T., Nishi, J. S., Epp, T., Lyashchenko, K. P., Surujballi, O., Turcotte, C., Esfandiari, J., Greenwald, R., & Leighton, F. A. (2010). COMPARISON OF TEST PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION OF NOVEL IMMUNOASSAYS FOR TUBERCULOSIS IN A CAPTIVE HERD OF WOOD BISON NATURALLY INFECTED WITH MYCOBACTERIUM BOVIS. Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 46(1), 78–86. https://doi.org/10.7589/0090-3558-46.1.78