By CELESTE BAUMGARTNER

Ohio Correspondent

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Researchers at The Ohio State University are developing an inexpensive, faster test to diagnose bovine tuberculosis (TB). Bovine TB is still a significant disease and cause of concern despite repeated efforts to curb it, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

“Effective surveillance and diagnosis of bTB is crucial for prevention and eradication of this disease,” said Dr. Shu-Hua Wang, an infectious disease physician with OSU Wexner Medical Center. “The ability of this test to provide early detection will fill a significant need in this area and have a meaningful impact on public health, economy, agriculture, and quality of life.”

The OSU researchers did not develop the original test but are modifying it to improve it, Wang explained. The Alere Determin TB-LAM-Ag test (Abbot) is a commercial test able to detect TB infection in humans. It is only available for research use in the United States.

The test takes just 25 minutes, a urine sample, and minimal supplies.

“Our goal is to improve this test for use in humans and animals,” Wang said. “In the laboratory, we have been able to modify the test and improve its performance by increasing detection of the LAM-antigen in the urine.”

Globally WHO estimated that in 2017, there were 10 million people with active TB, accounting for 1.3 million deaths, Wang said. In 2016, WHO estimated there were 147,000 cases of zoonotic TB, accounting for 12,500 deaths.

“I believe this is an underestimation, since many parts of the world do not have active surveillance of TB or zoonotic TB,” Wang explained.

This modified test detects mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. This includes TB and bovine TB, Wang said. Bovine TB can be transmitted by breathing in the infected bacteria or consuming unpasteurized or raw milk or dairy products and uncooked meat.

One may also be infected by direct contact with an infected animal product. Transmission can occur from human to animal and animal to human (zoonotic).

“We must improve diagnosis of zoonotic TB if we want to eliminate global TB disease,” Wang said. “Our goal is to improve human and animal health.”

Cattle herds in Michigan and Indiana have been identified with bovine TB. Wildlife (deer) are likely contributing to the reservoir. There have been documented cases of bovine TB in deer hunters and taxidermists from direct contact with infected deer.

There is a need to increase community education to deer hunters, farmers, dairy workers, and anyone else who may come in contact with infected deer or cattle. “We want to be able to educate so we can prevent a potential outbreak,” Wang said.

This research is part of the Global One Health, explained Dr. Wondwossen Gebreyes, executive director of the Ohio State Global One Health initiative, College of Veterinary Medicine. The team has used the new test in Mexico, Ethiopia, and the United States.

“It will be much cheaper and much faster,” Gebreyes said. “It will be very useful in the detection of an outbreak.”