avian & livestock assay data sheet

Wesselsbron virus

Test code: S0208 - Ultrasensitive qualitative detection of Wesselsbron virus by reverse transcription coupled real time polymerase chain reaction

Wesselsbron virus is a flavivirus, an enveloped, positive-sense RNA virus. The virus is transmitted by mosquitoes in the genus Aedes including A. caballus and A. circumluteolus.

Domesticated herbivores are the major reservoirs of this virus. Infections of sheep, cattle, and goats are often subclinical, but disease may be severe in sheep with preexisting liver diseases. Newborn lambs and goat kids are most susceptible, and mortality may occur. Occasional abortion in ewes is seen, together with congenital malformation of the central nervous system with arthrogryposis of the ovine (and also the bovine) fetus, and hydrops amnii in ewes. Humans can be infected with the virus but the disease is usually mild and nonfatal.

In the past, serological diagnosis has been based on hemagglutination-inhibition, complement fixation, and virus neutralization, but none of these assays are very sensitive or specific. However, molecular detection by PCR is rapid, sensitive and specific, and is a good alternative to traditional methods of detection (Johnson et al., 2012).

Utilities:

• Help confirm the disease causing agent
• Identify Wesselsbron virus carriers
• Help ensure that herds and populations are free of Wesselsbron virus
• Early prevention of spread of this virus among animals
• Minimize human exposure to this virus
• Safety monitoring of biological products that derive from animals

References:
Johnson, N., Voller, K., Phipps, L. P., Mansfield, K. and Fooks, A. R. (2012). Rapid molecular detection methods for Arboviruses of livestock of importance to Northern Europe. J. of Biomed. Biotech. 2012: 719402.

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.

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