Comparison of three immunological diagnostic tests for the detection of avian tuberculosis in naturally infected red deer (Cervus elaphus).

Cases of tuberculosis due to Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium in 52 adult red deer (Cervus elaphus) from a farm were studied using different diagnostic techniques. Immunological probes consisted of the comparative cervical tuberculin (CCT) skin test, the interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) assay, and 2 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) employing either avian purified protein derivatives or protoplasmatic antigen (PPA-3) as antigens. Three of the animals were euthanized due to severe weakness, loss of weight, and emaciation. Macroscopically, the 3 animals showed tuberculous lesions located mainly in lymph nodes of the digestive system and small intestine but also in other organs and lymph nodes. Polymerase chain reaction was carried out on samples from the 3 deer using primers to detect IS901, IS900, and IS6110, specific for Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium, Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, including Mycobacterium bovis, respectively. The last 2 agents cause pathologies very similar to avian tuberculosis in deer. The 3 deer were strongly positive by both ELISAs, slightly positive by the IFN-gamma test, and 1 of 2 was positive by the CCT test. As with domestic ruminants, ELISA could detect deer in an advanced stage of infection, with large numbers of mycobacteria.