Acute-phase proteins and blood parameters as potential additional markers for ante-mortem tuberculosis diagnosis in European bison (Bison bonasus)

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, European bison (Bison bonasus) is a vulnerable species. European bison is susceptible to mycobacterial infections, as evidenced by numerous confirmed tuberculosis cases in this species. Diagnostic methods for tuberculosis have developed significantly in recent years, but performing several parallel tests (serological, microbiological, molecular, cell-mediated based tests) is still the most appropriate algorithm to confirm or exclude Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex infection in this species. This study primarily aimed to determine whether some additional biomarkers could be helpful in tuberculosis diagnosis in European bison. Whole blood and serum from eight European bison with known TB status were used for the study. Four of these bison were Mycobacterium caprae-positive and four were M. caprae-negative. The material was tested for basic hematological and biochemical parameters and three selected acute phase proteins: ceruloplasmin, haptoglobin, and serum amyloid A (SAA). The study found no significant changes in biochemical or hematological parameters in European bison with tuberculosis, but one European bison with the most advanced tuberculosis lesions showed increased concentrations of haptoglobin and SAA. These preliminary studies show that determining the concentrations of acute-phase proteins could be an additional supportive tool that can be used to diagnose tuberculosis or to determine its severity. Further research is needed with an increased number of individuals.