Mayahi M, Khajeh G, Mosavari N, Parvandar Asadollahi K, Akhavizadegan M A
Department of Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran.
Vet Clin Pathol. 2013 Jun;42(2):212-5. doi: 10.1111/vcp.12033. Epub 2013 Apr 11.
Avian tuberculosis is an important disease affecting all species of birds and is most often caused by Mycobacterium avium or Mycobacterium genavense. Blood proteins are important diagnostic constituents in gastrointestinal, hepatic, renal, and infectious diseases.
The aim of the study was to compare serum protein profiles of domestic pigeons (Columba livia var. domestica) infected with Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium (MAA), with healthy pigeons.
Serum samples were collected from 80 pigeons with clinical signs of tuberculosis, all kept in the same loft. All birds were necropsied and cultured for mycobacteriosis; positive cultures were typed for MAA by PCR reactions targeting 16S rRNA, IS901 and IS1245. The concentration of total serum proteins was determined by the biuret method and spectrophotometry. Individual protein fractions were analyzed by cellulose acetate electrophoresis and extrapolated based on total protein concentration. For statistical analysis, the infected birds were compared with healthy pigeons.
A total of 37 pigeons with culture results positive for MAA were selected and allocated to 2 groups, a culture-positive group with macroscopic lesions of tuberculosis and another without macroscopic lesions. Six protein fractions were identified: prealbumin, albumin, alpha-1, alpha-2, and beta globulins and gamma globulins. Concentrations of total protein, beta globulins and gamma globulins were statistically significantly higher in the infected pigeons when compared with the control group. There were no significant differences between the groups of birds with or without macroscopic lesions.
Statistically significant differences in total protein, and beta and gamma globulin concentrations in all infected pigeons suggest that serum protein electrophoresis represents a nonspecific but valuable indicator for tuberculosis in pigeons.
禽结核病是一种影响所有鸟类物种的重要疾病，最常见的病因是鸟分枝杆菌或日内瓦分枝杆菌。血液蛋白是胃肠道、肝脏、肾脏和传染病中的重要诊断成分。
本研究旨在比较感染鸟分枝杆菌亚种鸟型（MAA）的家鸽（Columba livia var. domestica）与健康家鸽的血清蛋白谱。
从80只出现结核病临床症状的鸽子中采集血清样本，所有鸽子都饲养在同一鸽舍。对所有鸟类进行尸检并培养分枝杆菌病；通过针对16S rRNA、IS901和IS1245的PCR反应对阳性培养物进行MAA分型。采用双缩脲法和分光光度法测定血清总蛋白浓度。通过醋酸纤维素电泳分析各个蛋白组分，并根据总蛋白浓度进行推断。为了进行统计分析，将感染的鸟类与健康鸽子进行比较。
总共选择了37只MAA培养结果呈阳性的鸽子，并分为两组，一组为有结核病宏观病变的培养阳性组，另一组为无宏观病变的组。鉴定出六个蛋白组分：前白蛋白、白蛋白、α-1、α-2、β球蛋白和γ球蛋白。与对照组相比，感染鸽子的总蛋白、β球蛋白和γ球蛋白浓度在统计学上显著更高。有或无宏观病变的鸟类组之间没有显著差异。
所有感染鸽子的总蛋白以及β和γ球蛋白浓度在统计学上的显著差异表明，血清蛋白电泳是鸽子结核病的一种非特异性但有价值的指标。
