Roux, LezaanMcCall, Alicia J.Michel, Anita Luise2020-08-132020-08-132019-11Roux, L., McCall, A.J. & Michel, A.L., 2019, ‘Detection of native interferon-γ in nyala (Tragelaphus angasii): Towards diagnosing tuberculosis’, Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research 86(1), a1796. https://doi.org/10.4102/ojvr. v86i1.1796.0030-2465 (print)2219-0635 (online)10.4102/ojvr. v86i1.1796http://hdl.handle.net/2263/75704Mycobacterium bovis is the main cause of tuberculosis in wildlife. In South Africa, African buffaloes (Syncerus caffer) are a wildlife maintenance host while a number of other species are considered spillover hosts. Nyala (Tragelaphus angasii), a large antelope species from Southern Africa, is frequently traded and can be infected with M. bovis. Interferon gamma (IFN-γ) release assays that detect cell-mediated immune (CMI) responses to M. bovis infection have shown promise in elephants, rhinoceroses and buffaloes. The BOVIGAM® assay is a commercial IFN-γ release assay designed to detect tuberculosis in cattle and has been validated in buffaloes. We tested the suitability of the BOVIGAM® assay to detect native IFN-γ release in nyala. Blood samples collected from 17 nyalas were stimulated with different mitogens and IFN-γ release measured. We found that incubating whole blood with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and calcium ionophore (PMA/CaI) resulted in the highest levels of IFN-y release. Samples stimulated with tuberculin purified protein derivatives of M. bovis (PPDb) and M. avium (PPDa) did not show significant IFN-γ production. An intradermal tuberculin test (IDT) and culture of tissues from 15 of the 17 culled nyala were also performed, which supported the findings of the BOVIGAM® assay, suggesting the potential value of this assay for the diagnosis of tuberculosis in nyala.en© 2019. The Authors. Licensee: AOSIS. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License.Mycobacterium bovisTuberculosis (TB)Nyala (Tragelaphus angasii)Interferon gamma (IFN-γ)Cell-mediated immune (CMI)Article