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Galactosylgalactosylxylosylprotein 3-beta-glucuronosyltransferase—a potent biomarker for the diagnosis of tuberculosis in elephants

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Abstract

In Asian countries, there is high occurrence of tuberculosis (TB) among captive wild elephants due to close association with humans and other domestic livestock. The present study envisages on utilization of serological, molecular, and proteomic diagnostic assays for tuberculosis diagnosis. The usage of urine as a biological sample for the identification of biomarkers for tuberculosis forms the prime focus of the study. Seroprevalence of tuberculosis (TB) in elephants in Kerala were found to be 37.2% (n = 86) using Chembio DPP VetTB assay and nine (10.46%) were positive for acid fast bacilli using trunk wash sediment smear. On comparison with DPP VetTB assay, acid fast staining shows low sensitivity of 28.13%, specificity 100%, kappa statistics value of 0.329. The presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was confirmed in trunk wash using PCR targeting gene IS6110, at 245 bp amplicon size and 25 seropositive elephants (78.2%) were confirmed positive. Custom sequencing and phylogenetic analysis revealed that the isolate obtained were Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The urine of six TB confirmed elephants and six healthy elephants were selected for proteomic analysis. The protein in urine was precipitated, quantified, and subjected to SDS-PAGE, enzymatic digestion, and HRLCMS analysis. Mass spectrometry data analysis revealed 49 proteins identified in TB-infected group, 68 proteins identified in control group and Galactosylgalactosylxylosylprotein 3-beta-glucuronosyltransferase was the protein exclusively present in TB-infected group. Galactosylgalactosylxylosylprotein 3-beta-glucuronosyltransferase plays a major role in glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis. This is the first report of the presence of galactosylgalactosylxylosylprotein 3-beta-glucuronosyltransferase protein in urine of elephant.

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Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements to Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University for providing all facilities for conducting experiments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Pookode, Wayanad, 673576, India

    Ranjini Manuel, P. M. Deepa & A. Janus

  2. Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology, College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Mannuthy, Thrissur, 680651, India

    R. U. Ashok

  3. Department of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar, Haryana, 125001, India

    Rajeshkumar

  4. Department of Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Mannuthy, Thrissur, 680651, India

    K. Vijayakumar

  5. Department of Veterinary Physiology, College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Mannuthy, Thrissur, 680651, India

    K. Karthiayini

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  1. Ranjini Manuel
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  2. P. M. Deepa
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  3. R. U. Ashok
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  4. Rajeshkumar
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  5. K. Vijayakumar
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  6. K. Karthiayini
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  7. A. Janus
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Correspondence to Ranjini Manuel.

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Highlights

• In Kerala, the seroprevalence of tuberculosis in elephants was 37.2%.

Tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis was confirmed in 78.2% seropositive elephants by PCR.

• Mass spectrometry data analysis revealed that there were 49 proteins identified in TB infected group, 68 proteins identified in control group.

• Galactosylgalactosylxylosylprotein 3-beta-glucuronosyltransferase was the protein exclusively present in TB-infected group. Galactosylgalactosylxylosylprotein 3-beta-glucuronosyltransferase was identified as a potent biomarker for tuberculosis on proteomics analysis.

• This is the first study of urine protein biomarkers associated with TB in elephants.

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Manuel, R., Deepa, P.M., Ashok, R.U. et al. Galactosylgalactosylxylosylprotein 3-beta-glucuronosyltransferase—a potent biomarker for the diagnosis of tuberculosis in elephants. Eur J Wildl Res 68, 49 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-022-01598-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-022-01598-3

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