Universal rapid test and method for detection of tuberculosis in multiple host species
A universal test apparatus for detecting tuberculosis (TB) in any of many different species of non-primate mammals is provided. The universal test apparatus includes a test site having a mycobacterial antigen cocktail comprising ESAT-6/CFP10 and 16 kDa/MPB83 polyfusion antigens, and a tracer having the ESAT-6/CFP10 polyfusion antigen and MPB83 antigen conjugated to latex or colloidal gold. The universal test apparatus is effective across genuses, families and orders of non-primate mammals.
1. A test apparatus for detecting antibodies to a mycobacterial antigen in non-primate mammals, comprising of a test strip having thereon a mycobacterial antigen cocktail consisting essentially of either (i) ESAT-6, CFP10, and MPB83 antigens or amino acid sequence fragments thereof exhibiting antigenic activity, or (ii) ESAT-6, CFP10, MPB83, and M. tuberculosis 16 kDa antigens or amino acid sequence fragments thereof exhibiting antigenic activity.
2. A test apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
said ESAT-6 and CFP10 are included as a polyfusion protein ESAT-6/CFP10.
3. A test apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein:
said MPB83, and M. tuberculosis 16 kDa are included as a polyfusion protein 16 kDa/MPB83.
4. A test apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein:
said ESAT-6/CFP10 and said 16 kDa/MPB83 are included in approximately equal amounts.
5. A test apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a tracer including ESAT-6, CFP10, and MPB83 antigens or amino acid sequence fragments thereof exhibiting antigenic activity.
6. A test apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein:
said ESAT-6 and said CFP10 of said tracer are included as a polyfusion protein ESAT-6/CFP10.
7. A test apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein:
said polyfusion protein ESAT-6/CFP10 and said antigen MPB83 are included in approximately equal amounts in said tracer.
8. A test apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein:
said tracer includes colloidal gold or colored latex.
9. A test apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein:
said tracer includes rabbit IgG.
10. A method of testing multiple non-primate mammals for mycobacterial antibodies, comprising:
a) obtaining a corresponding multiple of test devices, each test device comprising a test strip having thereon a mycobacterial antigen cocktail comprising ESAT-6, CFP10, MPB83 antigens or amino acid sequence fragments thereof exhibiting antigenic activity;
b) obtaining bodily fluid from each of said multiple non-primate mammals;
c) applying said bodily fluid of each of said multiple non-primate mammals to a respective corresponding test device; and
d) inspecting said test devices to determine the presence or lack thereof of said mycobacterial antibodies, wherein
said multiple non-primate mammals include non-primate mammals of at least two different genuses.
11. A method according to claim 10 , wherein:
said multiple non-primate mammals include non-primate mammals of at least two different families.
12. A method according to claim 11 , wherein:
said multiple non-primate mammals include mammals of at least two different orders.
13. A method according to claim 10 , wherein:
said multiple non-primate mammals include at least two of cattle, buffalo, white-tailed deer, reindeer, Brockett deer, elk, badger, possum, lion, lynx, wild boar, elephant, gazelle, rhino, giraffe, tapir, llama, alpaca, jaguar, bongo, and kudu.
14. A method according to claim 10 , wherein:
said mycobacterial antigen cocktail further comprises M. tuberculosis 16 kDa.
15. A method according to claim 14 , wherein:
said mycobacterial antigen cocktail consists essentially of ESAT-6, CFP10, MPB83 and M. tuberculosis 16 kDa antigens or amino acid sequence fragments thereof exhibiting antigenic activity.
16. A method according to claim 14 , wherein:
said ESAT-6 and CFP10 are included as a polyfusion protein ESAT-6/CFP10.
17. A method according to claim 16 , wherein:
said MPB83 and M. tuberculosis 16 kDa are included as a polyfusion protein 16 kDa/MPB83.
18. a method according to claim 10 , wherein:
said plurality of test devices further include a tracer including ESAT-6, CFP10, MPB83 antigens or amino acid sequence fragments thereof exhibiting antigenic activity.
19. A method according to claim 18 , wherein:
said ESAT-6 and said CFP10 of said tracer are included as a polyfusion protein ESAT-6/CFP10.
20. A method according to claim 19 , wherein:
said polyfusion protein ESAT-6/CFP10 and said MPB83 are included in approximately equal amounts in said tracer.
21. A method according to claim 18 , wherein:
said tracer includes colloidal gold or colored latex.
22. A method according to claim 21 , wherein:
said tracer includes rabbit IgG.