avian & livestock assay data sheet
Tickborne encephalitis virus (TBEV)
Test code:
S0184
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Ultrasensitive detection of tickborne
encephalitis virus by reverse transcription coupled
real time PCR
Tick-borne encephalitis virus
(TBEV) belongs to the genus Flavivirus in the
family Flaviviridae. Infections can result in
acute central nervous system disease in humans
and animals. Three subtypes of TBEV have been
reported: far eastern (FE), Siberian (Sib) and
European (Eu) subtypes, which are distributed
over a wide area of Europe and Asia. The tick
vector of the FE and Sib subtypes is Ixodes
persulcatus and that of the Eu subtype is Ixodes
ricinus.
Besides transmission through tick
bites, the virus can also be passed on by
ingestion of unpasteurized dairy products such
as milk and cheese from infected goats, sheep,
or cows. Transmission through laboratory
exposure, breastfeeding, blood transfusion, and
contact with slaughtered viremic animals has
also been reported, but these modes of
transmission are rare.
Human infections can develop a
biphasic course involving acute febrile illness,
then a period of apparent recovery, followed by
neurological symptoms including headache,
meningitis, meningoencephalitis and
meningoencephalomyelitis. Death can occur within
5 to 7 days from the onset of neurological
signs. However, many viral infections can cause
similar symptoms, so laboratory confirmation is
needed.
Culture detection of the virus is
not efficient and takes a long time. Antigen
detection has low sensitivity. Molecular
detection by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is
highly specific and sensitive, and can be a good
alternative to traditional methods (Rudenko et
al., 2004.
Utilities:
-
Help confirm the disease causing agent
-
Identify TBEV carriers
-
Help ensure that animal colonies and populations are free of
TBEV
-
Early prevention of spread of the virus among animals
-
Minimize human exposure to the virus
-
Safety monitoring of biological products that derive
from animals
References:
Rudenko, N., Golovchenko, M., Cihlárova, V. and
Grubhoffer, L. (2004) Tick-borne encephalitis
virus-specific RT-PCR--a rapid test for
detection of the pathogen without viral RNA
purification. Acta Virol. 48:167-171.
Specimen requirements:
0.2 ml whole
blood in EDTA (purple top) tube, or 0.2 ml cerebrospinal fluid, or 0.2 ml fresh or frozen
tissue, or 0.2 ml 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 reverse transcription coupled real
time PCR
Normal range:
Nondetected
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