Is serological monitoring a fit-for-purpose tool to assess the epidemiological situation of tuberculosis in the sylvatic species of European bison (Bison bonasus) in Poland?

Abstract

Bovine tuberculosis is one of the most dangerous zoonotic diseases. Despite the near-complete elimination of the disease from cattle breeding in Poland achieved in 2009, its re-emergence is now observed. Globally, the number of human cases is underestimated and the importance of free-living animals as reservoirs of tuberculosis is growing. As a species highly susceptible to Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex infection, the European bison (Bison bonasus) has a role in the transmission of the disease in Poland. The purpose of the investigation was to assess the epidemiological situation of tuberculosis in Polish European bison serologically.

Keywords

• bovine tuberculosis
• european bison
• mycobacterium bovis
• m. caprae
• serology
• elisa
• tuberculin skin test
• interferon gamma release assay