wildlife, zoo and aquatic assay data sheet

Pseudoloma neurophilia

Test code: X0027 - Ultrasensitive qualitative detection of Pseudoloma neurophilia by real time PCR.

Pseudoloma neurophilia, a microsporidian parasite, is the most prevalent pathogen found in zebrafish (Danio rerio) research facilities. Infections occur primarily in the spinal cord and are associated with emaciation and scoliotic changes. It was initially discovered as an unusual xenoma-forming microsporidium in the central nervous system of moribund zebrafish from a laboratory colony in Eugene, Oregon.

Spores of this parasite are uninucleate, ovoid to pyriform, with a prominent posterior vacuole. The spores are average 5.4 × 2.7 μm in size with 13–16 coils of the polar filament. Infection with this parasite can produce xenomas within the spinal cord and hindbrain. The xenomas usually contain sporophorous vesicles with up to 16 spores. Sporoblasts and presporoblast stages (probably sporonts) are found occasionally in small aggregates dispersed randomly throughout the xenomas.

This parasite can also be found in the ovaries of infected fishes. Vertical transmission appears to help spread the parasite through a population. The sharing of various strains of zebrafish among research facilities can spread the parasites to other research facilities.

Compared with traditional diagnostic methods, PCR diagnosis is rapid, specific and highly sensitive. It allows for screening of large numbers of fish, and can be applied to eggs, water filtrates, biofilms, and other sample types (Whipps and Kent, 2006.

Utilities:

• Help confirm the disease causing agent
• Shorten the time required to confirm a clinical diagnosis of this parasite
• Help ensure that zebrafish facilities are free of this parasite
• Early prevention of spread of this parasite in a facility or geographic area
• Minimize human exposure to this parasite
• Safety monitoring of biological products that derive from susceptible animals

References:
Whipps, C.M. and Kent, M.L. (2006) Polymerase Chain Reaction Detection of Pseudoloma neurophilia, a Common Microsporidian of Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Reared in Research Laboratories. J. Am. Assoc. Lab. Anim. Sci. 45: 36–39.

Specimen requirements:  Skin or vent swab, or biofilm swab, or filter media, or 10 ml water, or 0.2 ml 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 real time PCR

Normal range: Nondetected