Biomarkers for early diagnosis and differentiation of mycobacterial infection

A method for preferential targeting of a pharmacological agent to a ruminant mammal infected with a Mycobacterium, the method comprising the steps of

• a) obtaining a sample from the ruminant mammal;
• b) testing the sample for a level of at least two biomarkers selected from the group consisting of LOC102180841, LOC102185556 and IL-22, and comparing the level of the selected biomarkers in the sample against a control level of the selected biomarkers detected in an uninfected ruminant mammalian sample;
• c) determining the infection status of the ruminant mammal, wherein an increase in the level of LOC102180841 or IL-22 in the sample as compared to the control level or a decrease in the level of LOC102185556 in the sample as compared to the control level is indicative of a mycobacterial infection in the ruminant mammal;
• and
• d) administering the pharmacological agent to the ruminant mammal, wherein the pharmacological agent is an antibiotic.