Objective: To analyze the application value of whole blood IFN-γ release test in the detection of Mycobacterium macaque.
Methods: Firstly, the basal IFN-γ content of serum samples of rhesus monkeys with positive and negative tuberculin test (TST) was determined. Then, with PBS as the control and 200 IU bovine-PPD as the stimulating antigen, the mice were co-cultured with TST-negative and positive rhesus heparin for about 24 hours, and the plasma was collected to determine the IFN-γ content. The diagnostic efficacy of whole blood IFN-γ release test was investigated by analyzing the changes of plasma IFN-γ content and stimulation index before and after antigen stimulation.
RESULTS: The serum basal IFN-γ content of TST-positive rhesus monkeys was significantly higher than that of TST-negative rhesus monkeys, but the dispersion was larger. Before and after PPD stimulation, the plasma IFN-γ content of TST-negative rhesus monkeys had no significant change, while the plasma IFN-γ content of TST-positive rhesus monkeys was significantly increased (P<0.01). The results of stimulation index showed that TST-positive rhesus monkeys were significantly higher than TST-negative monkeys (P<0.01). ROC curve analysis showed that both plasma IFN-γ content and stimulation index could be used as evaluation indexes for whole blood IFN-γ release test.
Conclusion: The results of this study based on a small sample size confirm that the whole blood IFN-γ release test is a useful supplementary method for the rapid diagnosis of Mycobacterium macaques.