BLV coinfection impairs immunity and diagnostics in bovine tuberculosis

Abstract Coinfections can alter the adaptive immune responses to bovine tuberculosis (bTB) and hinder accurate diagnosis; however, their effect on host immunity to Mycobacterium bovis and disease progression is not well understood. In this study, we assessed the impact of natural coinfection with bo...

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Main Authors: Álvaro Menin, Natana Maria Metinoski Bueno, Maria Eduarda Hindlmayer, Carolina Reck, Lucas de Lima Nogueira, Aguinaldo Roberto Pinto, André Báfica
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-08-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-13121-0
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author Álvaro Menin
Natana Maria Metinoski Bueno
Maria Eduarda Hindlmayer
Carolina Reck
Lucas de Lima Nogueira
Aguinaldo Roberto Pinto
André Báfica
author_facet Álvaro Menin
Natana Maria Metinoski Bueno
Maria Eduarda Hindlmayer
Carolina Reck
Lucas de Lima Nogueira
Aguinaldo Roberto Pinto
André Báfica
author_sort Álvaro Menin
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Coinfections can alter the adaptive immune responses to bovine tuberculosis (bTB) and hinder accurate diagnosis; however, their effect on host immunity to Mycobacterium bovis and disease progression is not well understood. In this study, we assessed the impact of natural coinfection with bovine leukemia virus (BLV) on immune responses to M. bovis. Among 108 cattle examined, those coinfected with BLV showed a significantly higher intragranulomatous mycobacterial burden and more severe pathological lesions compared to animals infected with M. bovis alone. Additionally, coinfected animals demonstrated a granulomatous response characterized by reduced lymphocyte populations, increased neutrophil infiltration, and diminished granuloma encapsulation, suggesting a compromised antimycobacterial immune response. Supporting this hypothesis, BLV-infected cattle exposed to mycobacterial antigens displayed impaired delayed-type hypersensitivity (type IV hypersensitivity) to a purified protein derivative of M. bovis as well as reduced antibody response. These findings indicate that BLV coinfection influences the immunopathogenesis of bTB, exacerbates disease progression in cattle naturally infected with M. bovis, and may reduce the predictive reliability of diagnostic methods used in bTB control programs.
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publishDate 2025-08-01
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spelling doaj-art-e28b16712db14c1a838b19e4c84ead4f2025-08-24T11:27:04ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-08-011511910.1038/s41598-025-13121-0BLV coinfection impairs immunity and diagnostics in bovine tuberculosisÁlvaro Menin0Natana Maria Metinoski Bueno1Maria Eduarda Hindlmayer2Carolina Reck3Lucas de Lima Nogueira4Aguinaldo Roberto Pinto5André Báfica6Department of Biosciences and One Health, Federal University of Santa CatarinaDepartment of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Federal University of Santa CatarinaVeterinary Research and Diagnostics Institute/VERTÁ LaboratoriesVeterinary Research and Diagnostics Institute/VERTÁ LaboratoriesDepartment of Pathology and Legal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of CearáDepartment of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Federal University of Santa CatarinaDepartment of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Federal University of Santa CatarinaAbstract Coinfections can alter the adaptive immune responses to bovine tuberculosis (bTB) and hinder accurate diagnosis; however, their effect on host immunity to Mycobacterium bovis and disease progression is not well understood. In this study, we assessed the impact of natural coinfection with bovine leukemia virus (BLV) on immune responses to M. bovis. Among 108 cattle examined, those coinfected with BLV showed a significantly higher intragranulomatous mycobacterial burden and more severe pathological lesions compared to animals infected with M. bovis alone. Additionally, coinfected animals demonstrated a granulomatous response characterized by reduced lymphocyte populations, increased neutrophil infiltration, and diminished granuloma encapsulation, suggesting a compromised antimycobacterial immune response. Supporting this hypothesis, BLV-infected cattle exposed to mycobacterial antigens displayed impaired delayed-type hypersensitivity (type IV hypersensitivity) to a purified protein derivative of M. bovis as well as reduced antibody response. These findings indicate that BLV coinfection influences the immunopathogenesis of bTB, exacerbates disease progression in cattle naturally infected with M. bovis, and may reduce the predictive reliability of diagnostic methods used in bTB control programs.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-13121-0ImmunopathologyGranulomaTuberculosisBovine leukosis virusMycobacterium bovis
spellingShingle Álvaro Menin
Natana Maria Metinoski Bueno
Maria Eduarda Hindlmayer
Carolina Reck
Lucas de Lima Nogueira
Aguinaldo Roberto Pinto
André Báfica
BLV coinfection impairs immunity and diagnostics in bovine tuberculosis
Scientific Reports
Immunopathology
Granuloma
Tuberculosis
Bovine leukosis virus
Mycobacterium bovis
title BLV coinfection impairs immunity and diagnostics in bovine tuberculosis
title_full BLV coinfection impairs immunity and diagnostics in bovine tuberculosis
title_fullStr BLV coinfection impairs immunity and diagnostics in bovine tuberculosis
title_full_unstemmed BLV coinfection impairs immunity and diagnostics in bovine tuberculosis
title_short BLV coinfection impairs immunity and diagnostics in bovine tuberculosis
title_sort blv coinfection impairs immunity and diagnostics in bovine tuberculosis
topic Immunopathology
Granuloma
Tuberculosis
Bovine leukosis virus
Mycobacterium bovis
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-13121-0
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