wildlife and zoo assay data sheet
Pseudorabies
Test code:
S0121 -
Ultrasensitive qualitative detection of pseudorabies virus by
real time polymerase chain reaction
Pseudorabies
is a highly endemic swine disease in most parts of the world. It
is caused by porcine herpesvirus 1, which is also called
pseudorabies virus (PRV), suid herpesvirus-1 (SHV-1), or
Aujeszky's disease virus. In cattle, it is sometimes called mad
itch disease virus. PRV is considered the most economically
important viral disease of swine in areas where hog cholera has
been eradicated.
There are
many secondary hosts of pseudorabies, including dogs, cats,
cattle, rats and horses, but not humans. Secondary hosts are
infected through direct contact with swine, rats, and other
infected secondary hosts and by eating infected uncooked pork.
Infected
swine are usually asymptomatic, but PRV can cause abortion and
high mortality in piglets. In some piglets and mature pigs,
coughing, sneezing, fever, constipation, depression, seizures,
ataxia, circling, and excess salivation can be observed.
Mortality in piglets less than one month of age is close to 100
percent, but it is less than 10 percent in pigs between one and
six months of age. In cattle infected with this virus, intense
itching can result, followed by neurological signs and death. In
dogs, symptoms include intense itching, jaw and pharyngeal
paralysis, howling and death. In cats, the disease is so rapidly
fatal that there are usually no symptoms.
Although the
virus does not infect humans, this virus could pose significant
risk to xenotransplantation of organs derived from pigs. Studies
in experimental animals have shown that the virus can rapidly
spread in the central nervous system.
Detection of
the virus can be performed by serology assays, but false
positive results have been reported (Jacobs et al., 1999).
Molecular detection of viral DNA by PCR is a useful alternative
because the method is rapid, sensitive and specific.
Utilities:
-
Help confirm the disease causing agent
-
Identify pseudorabies carriers
-
Help ensure that animal groups and populations are free of
pseudorabies virus
-
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:
Jacobs, L., Voets, R. and Bianchi, A.T.J. (1999) Detection of
pseudorabies virus DNA in individual single-reactor pigs found
in certified pseudorabies-free herds. Res. Vet. Sci. 67:
305-307.
Specimen requirements: 0.2 ml whole blood in EDTA (purple top) tube.
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