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avian
& livestock assay data sheet
Aspergillus
species
Test code:
F0009 -
Ultrasensitive
qualitative detection of most common Aspergillus
species by real time PCR
Aspergillus is a filamentous fungus
that occurs ubiquitously in the environment. It is found in
soil, on plants, in decaying organic matter, and in household
dust and building materials. Most people inhale Aspergillus
spores every day without being affected, but for
immunocompromised persons such as AIDS patients and cancer
patients, inhaling the fungal spores may cause illness. The
spectrum of illness includes allergic reactions, lung
infections, and infections in other organs.
There are more than 185 species of
Aspergillus; the most common species are Aspergillus
fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus. Other common species
include Aspergillus terreus, Aspergillus nidulans, and
Aspergillus niger.
Aspergillus infections in birds,
cattle, horses, pigs, primates and other species have been
reported infrequently. Pulmonary symptoms are often seen in
these cases. Healthy unstressed animals are generally resistant
to even high levels of spores. However, young and old animals,
those on antibiotics, and those whose immune systems are
suppressed by surgery, reproduction, environmental changes,
capture, or shipping may become infected.
Since many animals have had prior exposure to
Aspergillus, serological testing is not useful or
reliable. Although traditional culture detection of
Aspergillus is highly specific, culture of this organism is
slow and sensitivity is low. However, molecular detection by
polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is both specific and sensitive,
and is a rapid and effective alternative to other methods (Buess
et al., 2012).
Utilities:
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Help confirm the disease causing agent
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Shorten the time required to confirm a clinical
diagnosis of Aspergillus
infection.
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Help ensure that flocks and herds are free of this fungus
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Early prevention of spread of this fungus
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Minimize personnel exposure to this fungus
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Safety monitoring of biological products and vaccines
that derive from susceptible species
References:
Buess, M., Cathomas, G., Halter, J., Junker, L., Grendelmeier, P.,
Tamm, M. and Stolz, D. (2012) Aspergillus-PCR in bronchoalveolar
lavage for detection of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in
immunocompromised patients. BMC Infectious Diseases 12: 237-244.
Specimen requirements:
Throat or
respiratory swab, or 0.2 ml water, or fungal culture, or 0.2 ml
fresh, frozen or fixed tissue, or environmental surface swab,
or cloacal swab.
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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