Evaluation of Volatile Organic Compounds Obtained from Breath and Feces to Detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex in Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) in Doñana National Park, Spain

Researchers identified specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the breath and feces of wild boar that can distinguish between Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC)-positive and MTBC-negative individuals, particularly in juvenile animals. Using discriminant function analysis (DFA), the study successfully classified MTBC status based on VOCs from both breath and fecal samples collected from 33 wild boar in Doñana National Park, Spain. Significant VOCs were detected across different age classes, with notable findings in adult and juvenile boar. This non-invasive method offers a promising tool for surveillance and disease management in wild swine populations, though further validation with larger sample sizes and diverse geographic locations is recommended.

Nol, P., Ionescu, R., Geremariam Welearegay, T., Barasona, J. A., Vicente, J., de Jesus Beleño-Sáenz, K., Barrenetxea, I., Jose Torres, M., Ionescu, F., & Rhyan, J. (2020). Evaluation of Volatile Organic Compounds Obtained from Breath and Feces to Detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex in Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) in Doñana National Park, Spain. Pathogens, 9(5), 346. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens9050346