Macropodid (kangaroo) herpesviruses

Test codes:
S0161 - Ultrasensitive qualitative detection but not differentiation of macropod herpesviruses 1 and 2 by real time polymerase chain reaction.
S0162 - Ultrasensitive qualitative detection of macropod herpesvirus 3 by real time polymerase chain reaction.

Macropodid herpesviruses (MaHVs) have caused fatal disease outbreaks among captive marsupials in Australia. These outbreaks resulted in the isolation of nine MaHVs, grouped into two species, macropodid herpesviruses 1 and 2 (MaHV-1 and MaHV-2). Serological surveys show that these viruses are widespread among Australian kangaroos and wallabies (family Macropodidae).

Phylogenetic reconstructions based on putative amino acid sequences of glycoprotein B indicate that MaHV-1 and -2 are most closely related to subfamily Alphaherpesvirinae. Within this subfamily, MaHV-1 and -2 are closely associated with herpesviruses that infect primates.

Recently a new species of macropodid herpesvirus, MaHV-3, has been discovered in a group of free-ranging eastern grey kangaroos (Wilcox et al., 2011). This virus is more closely related to the subfamily Gammaherpesvirinae than to MaHV-1 and MaHV-2

Infections of macropodids by any of these three viruses can result in congestion of lung, liver, and spleen. Infected animals may have high fever, respiratory rales, conjunctivitis, and small vesicles in the ano-genital region. Similar to herpesvirus infection in humans, infected animals may subsequently develop latent infections with subclinical symptoms. These animals become carriers.

These viruses can be detected by cell culture, but this method is expensive and time consuming. Since many macropods have had past exposure to these viruses, serological detection is not very useful to identify carriers. Molecular detection by polymerase chain reaction offers rapid, highly specific and sensitive detection of these viruses.

Utilities:

• Help confirm the disease causing agent
• Help ensure that animal groups and populations are free of these viruses
• Early prevention of spread of these viruses among a population
• Minimize human exposure to these viruses

References:
Wilcox, R.S., Vaz, P., Ficorilli, N.P., Whiteley, P.L., Wilks, C.R. and Devlin, J.M. (2011) Gammaherpesvirus infection in a free-ranging eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus). Aust. Vet. J. 89:55-57.

Specimen requirements:  0.2 ml whole blood in EDTA (purple top) tube, or nasal swab, or throat swab, or lesion swab, or 0.2 ml cell culture.

Contact Zoologix if advice is needed to determine an appropriate specimen type for a specific diagnostic application. For specimen types not listed here, please contact Zoologix to confirm specimen acceptability and shipping instructions.

For all specimen types, if there will be a delay in shipping, or during very warm weather, refrigerate specimens until shipped and ship with a cold pack unless more stringent shipping requirements are specified. Frozen specimens should be shipped so as to remain frozen in transit. See shipping instructions for more information.

Turnaround time: 2 business days

Methodology: Qualitative real time PCR

Normal range: Nondetected