avian
& livestock assay data sheet
Aspergillus fumigatus
Test code:
F0001 -
Ultrasensitive
qualitative detection of
Aspergillus fumigatus fungus by real time polymerase
chain reaction
F0001 is
included in the poultry
respiratory panel
The genus
Aspergillus
includes several related fungi which cause aspergillosis. One
that is common in the environment is
Aspergillus fumigatus.
This fungus produces airborne spores which can spread to a wide
area, especially during dry windy weather. Spores can enter and
develop in the respiratory system, lungs, eyes, and ears. “Sick
Building Syndrome” is a condition caused by continuous fungal
growth in areas of buildings and ventilation systems. Growth
leads to the release of more spores. This can potentially lead
to large scale respiratory infections and distress associated
with aspergillosis.
Symptoms of
aspergillosis are caused by endotoxins produced by the fungus.
Aspergillosis can be fatal, especially in immunodeficient
individuals. Aspergillus
infection is common among domesticated and caged birds.
Animals such as birds, horses and
other livestock can be
infected with this fungus by inhalation of spores from
contaminated feed, fecal material, and soil. Healthy unstressed
birds and animals are generally resistant to even high
levels of spores. However, young and old individuals, those on
antibiotics, and those whose immune systems are suppressed by
surgery, reproduction, environmental changes, capture, or
shipping may become infected. Human patients with AIDS,
cancer or other immunosuppressive diseases are often victims of
this fungal infection.
Since many
birds and animals have had prior exposure to this fungus,
serological testing is not useful or reliable. Culture
identification is labor intensive and cultures are frequently
contaminated with other fungi. Molecular detection by PCR can
provide quick, sensitive and specific detection of the fungus in
a variety of specimen types (Buess et al., 2012).
Utilities:
-
Help confirm the disease causing agent
-
Shorten the time required to confirm a clinical
diagnosis of Aspergillus
fumigatus
infection.
-
Help ensure that flocks and herds are free of this fungus
-
Early prevention of spread of this fungus
-
Minimize personnel exposure to this fungus
-
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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