AUTHOR=Bernitz Netanya , Kerr Tanya J. , Goosen Wynand J. , Chileshe Josephine , Higgitt Roxanne L. , Roos Eduard O. , Meiring Christina , Gumbo Rachiel , de Waal Candice , Clarke Charlene , Smith Katrin , Goldswain Samantha , Sylvester Taschnica T. , Kleynhans Léanie , Dippenaar Anzaan , Buss Peter E. , Cooper David V. , Lyashchenko Konstantin P. , Warren Robin M. , van Helden Paul D. , Parsons Sven D. C. , Miller Michele A. 

TITLE=Review of Diagnostic Tests for Detection of Mycobacterium bovis Infection in South African Wildlife

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Veterinary Science

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2021.588697

DOI=10.3389/fvets.2021.588697

ISSN=2297-1769

ABSTRACT=<p>Wildlife tuberculosis is a major economic and conservation concern globally. Bovine tuberculosis (bTB), caused by <italic>Mycobacterium bovis</italic> (<italic>M. bovis</italic>), is the most common form of wildlife tuberculosis. In South Africa, to date, <italic>M. bovis</italic> infection has been detected in 24 mammalian wildlife species. The identification of <italic>M. bovis</italic> infection in wildlife species is essential to limit the spread and to control the disease in these populations, sympatric wildlife species and neighboring livestock. The detection of <italic>M. bovis</italic>-infected individuals is challenging as only severely diseased animals show clinical disease manifestations and diagnostic tools to identify infection are limited. The emergence of novel reagents and technologies to identify <italic>M. bovis</italic> infection in wildlife species are instrumental in improving the diagnosis and control of bTB. This review provides an update on the diagnostic tools to detect <italic>M. bovis</italic> infection in South African wildlife but may be a useful guide for other wildlife species.</p>