wildlife and zoo assay data sheet
Ranavirus screen
Test code:
S0145
-
Ultrasensitive qualitative detection of ranavirus by real time
PCR.
S0145 is
included in P0031 -
amphibian screening panel
Ranaviruses are
large viruses with linear and double-stranded DNAs, icosahedral
capsids and lipid membranes. They replicate in the nucleus and
cytoplasm of host cells.
Ranaviruses can
infect fish, amphibians, chelonians and other vertebrates (Chinchar, 2002).
Infection of larval salamanders with these viruses results in
high mortality rates. Ranavirus infection usually occurs in late
summer or early autumn, and recurs annually in some locations.
Amphibians
infected with Ranaviruses develop generalized viremia resulting
in edema, papules, lesions, and bloody exudate from the vent.
Necrosis of the liver, spleen, kidney and hematopoietic tissues
may result in death after 7–14 days of infection.
Viral
transmission between animals can occur through close physical
contact, contact with infected water or ingestion of infected
carcasses. Vertical transmission of virus from infected adults
to eggs is unknown, and the virus does not appear to have a
reservoir host.
Serological
detection and culture detection of these viruses are both
time-consuming and not very sensitive. Molecular detection of
the viruses by PCR can be useful because it provides high
sensitivity, high specificity and fast turnaround time.
Utilities:
-
Help confirm the disease causing agent
-
Shorten the time required to confirm a clinical
diagnosis of ranavirus
-
Help ensure that animal facilities or amphibian populations
are free of ranaviruses
-
Early prevention of spread of ranaviruses in a facility
or geographic area
-
Minimize human exposure to ranaviruses
-
Safety monitoring of biological products that derive
from susceptible animals
References:
Chinchar,
V.G. (2002) Ranaviruses (family Iridoviridae): Emerging
cold-blooded killers—Brief review. Arch. of Virol. 147: 447–470.
Specimen requirements:
Skin swab, oral swab or vent swab, or environmental swab,
or 0.2 ml fresh, frozen or fixed tissue, or 0.2 ml
water or culture, or 0.2 ml whole blood in EDTA (purple top) tube.
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
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