MALDI Biotyper® for Veterinary Microbiology

Specific pathogenic mycobacteria represent an important challenge to animal and human health. The MBT HT Mycobacteria Module from Bruker covers hundreds of reference strains, including pathogens of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) and the nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), with continual updates.

There are two key challenge areas facing the veterinary microbiology industry: pathogens affecting animals, and control of zoonosis. The MALDI Biotyper^® increases the speed and accuracy of identifying microbial infection in animals, therefore preventing possible herd outbreaks or spread to humans. In contrast to lengthy and cumbersome phenotypic methods, MALDI-TOF MS provides microbial identification in minutes, rather than days, once the organism is cultured. The MALDI Biotyper^® is recognized Official Method of Analysis by AOAC INTERNATIONAL and is ISO 16140-part 6 validated by MicroVal for the confirmation of several foodborne pathogens such as Salmonella spp. and Campylobacter spp.

In accordance with zoonosis surveillance, Bruker’s Selective Testing of Antimicrobial Resistance STAR^®-Cepha and STAR^®-Carba Assays can be used in conjunction with the MALDI Biotyper^®, to identify specific microorganisms with antibiotic resistance, present in animals or animal products. This information is useful for determining the correct medication for targeting methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus (MRSA) infections, for example.

The MALDI Biotyper^® can significantly improve and facilitate the identification and differentiation of mastitis-associated Streptococcus spp. and related species. The system’s ability to study species and strains could provide a useful tool for studying outbreaks and transmission pathways, significantly impacting treatment of the disease.

The MBT Compass^® reference library (version 2022) covers 4,274 species from 704 bacteria and fungi genera, including veterinary organisms such as Enterococci as well as less common species such as Brachyspira, Prototheca and Mycoplasma. The library is continuously maintained and updated according to strict quality controlled procedures.

Many veterinary laboratories will come across species not contained in even the most up-to-date reference library. Laboratories can use the MBT Explorer^® Software module to compile customized libraries, to optimize the microorganism classification process.

The MALDI Biotyper^® provides a high level of discrimination at the genus and species level, and represents an open system that can be complemented with the laboratory’s own reference data. This not only enables veterinary institutions to accurately and rapidly identify known infectious agents, but tracks new and emerging pathogens that can have serious consequences for animal and public health.