Molecular Biology & Genomics Centre

Pathogen Identification


Molecular based methods like PCR, Real-Time PCR and more recently next generation sequencing (NGS) have revolutionized the field of veterinary diagnostics. At MBG, we offer detection of pathogenic viruses, bacteria and parasites using molecular methods, which are fast and highly sensitive to detect microbial pathogens in various specimens. MBG is an ISO 17025 accredited facility and benefits from an isolated containment level 3 facility for processing highly (level 3) contagious pathogens.


All Bacteria Virus Fungi Parasite


Validated
Assay Code API-011
Description Avian Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is a positive sense, single-stranded RNA virus of the Coronaviridae Family. This virus causes acute respiratory disease in chickens. This family of viruses has an exceptionally large genome of up to 31Kbp in length.
Upon infection with IBV, the virion binds to the host cell via cell surface molecules. The virus is then introduced to the cell cytoplasm either by fusion or by receptor mediated endocytosis. They multiply in the host cell and then exocytosed to be able to infect new host cells.
IBV infection in chickens presents with respiratory distress which can lead to a decrease in egg production or quality. The virus is spread quickly between individuals leading to a morbidity rate of 100% in bird populations that have not been vaccinated.

Method Real-Time RT-PCR.
Sample Type
Tissue (tracheal mucosa, lung, kidney, oviduct),Culture, Swab/Secretion (Respiratory), Tissue on FTA Card
Transport Condition Samples should be transported at 4°C and must be delivered within 24 h of collection.
Tissue and swabs must be sent in RNA Preservative media. It is not required to add RNA preservative media to culture.
Turn Around Time (TAT) Normal Turnaround time for pathogen Identification is within 5 working days.
Urgent Samples will be reported within half of the minimum test period & will be Charged Double.
Samples delivered after 11:00 AM will be processed next working day unless urgent.

Links

Validated
Assay Code API-010
Description Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) is a double stranded RNA virus that has a bi-segmented genome and belongs to the genus Avibirnavirus of family Birnaviridae. The two segments, A and B, are enclosed within a nonenveloped icosahedral capsid. IBD is a highly contagious disease of young chickens caused by infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV), characterized by immunosuppression and mortality generally at 3 to 6 weeks of age. The disease is also called as Gumboro disease since it was first discovered in Gumboro, Delaware in 1962.
There are two distinct serotypes of the virus, but only serotype 1 viruses cause disease in poultry.
It is economically important to the poultry industry worldwide due to increased susceptibility to other diseases and negative interference with effective vaccination. In recent years, very virulent strains of IBDV (vvIBDV), causing severe mortality in chicken, have emerged in Europe, Latin America, South-East Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

Method Real -Time RT- PCR.
Sample Type
EDTA blood, Tissue, Tissue on FTA card, Culture.
Transport Condition Samples should be transported at 4°C and must be delivered within 24 h of collection.
Turn Around Time (TAT) Normal Turnaround time for pathogen Identification is within 5 working days.
Urgent Samples will be reported within half of the minimum test period & will be Charged Double.
Samples delivered after 11:00 AM will be processed next working day unless urgent.

Links

Accredited *
Assay Code See Below
Description There are three types of influenza viruses: A, B, and C. Influenza A viruses are members of the family Orthomyxoviridae and are further classified by subtype on the basis of the two main surface glycoproteins hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA).

Birds usually get affected by Type A flu virus, also called as Avian Influenza (AI) virus which constantly evolves by mutation and re-assortment and is generally responsible for the large flu epidemics. The AI virus affects several species of food producing birds (chickens, turkeys, quails, guinea fowl, etc.), as well as pet birds and wild birds. Occasionally mammals may contract avian influenza. There are many AI virus strains, which are usually classified into two categories according to the severity of the disease in poultry:

  • highly pathogenic (HPAI) strains, which can cause severe clinical signs and potentially high mortality rates among poultry, e.g. Avian influenza A viruses of the subtypes H5 and H7, including H5N1, H7N7, and H7N3 viruses, have been associated with HPAI.
  • low pathogenic (LPAI) strains, which typically cause few or no clinical signs in poultry, e.g Influenza H9 virus, which has been identified only in a "low pathogenicity" form. However, LPAI viruses have the potential to evolve into HPAI viruses and this has been documented in some poultry outbreaks.

Equine influenza is caused by two distinct subtypes (H7N7, formerly equi -1, and H3N8, formerly equi -2) of the influenza A virus. It is an acute respiratory infection of horses, donkeys, mules and other equidae. The disease has an incubation period of only one to three days and is capable of causing explosive outbreaks. Horses with horse flu can run a fever, have a dry, hacking cough, runny nose, and become depressed and reluctant to eat or drink for several days, but they usually recover in two to three weeks.

Type B flu virus, unlike the type A flu viruses, is found only in humans. Type B flu may cause a less severe reaction than type A flu virus, but occasionally, it can be extremely harmful. Influenza type B viruses are not classified by subtype and do not cause pandemics.

The influenza C virus infects humans, dogs and pigs, is less common than the other types. It usually causes only mild disease.

Pathogens TestedTesting is available for Influenza A and B, Avian Influenza, Equine Influenza, Influenza H5N1, Subtyping of Influenza (N1 to N9, H1 to H16).

  • API-012 : Influenza A *
  • API-201 : Influenza B *
  • API-016 : Influenza H5 *
  • API-015 : Influenza H7 *
  • API-014 : Influenza H9 *
  • API-017 : Influenza N1 *
  • API-184 : Influenza N1 to N9
  • APH-185 : Influenza H1 to H16

* Accredited Tests.

Refer to the service list for more details.

Method
  • Real-Time RT- PCR
  • PCR
  • Sequencing.
Sample Type
Accredited : Swab/Secretion (Respiratory), Swab/Secretion (Rectal), Tissue.
Specimens must be sent in RNA Preservative media.
Alternatives : Culture.
Transport Condition Samples should be transported at 4°C.
Turn Around Time (TAT) Normal Turnaround time for pathogen Identification is within 5 working days.
Urgent Samples will be reported within half of the minimum test period & will be Charged Double.
Samples delivered after 11:00 AM will be processed next working day unless urgent.

Links




Molecular Biology & Genomics Centre

Pathogen Identification


Molecular based methods like PCR, Real-Time PCR and more recently next generation sequencing (NGS) have revolutionized the field of veterinary diagnostics. At MBG, we offer detection of pathogenic viruses, bacteria and parasites using molecular methods, which are fast and highly sensitive to detect microbial pathogens in various specimens. MBG is an ISO 17025 accredited facility and benefits from an isolated containment level 3 facility for processing highly (level 3) contagious pathogens.


All Bacteria Virus Fungi Parasite


Validated
Assay Code API-011
Description Avian Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is a positive sense, single-stranded RNA virus of the Coronaviridae Family. This virus causes acute respiratory disease in chickens. This family of viruses has an exceptionally large genome of up to 31Kbp in length.
Upon infection with IBV, the virion binds to the host cell via cell surface molecules. The virus is then introduced to the cell cytoplasm either by fusion or by receptor mediated endocytosis. They multiply in the host cell and then exocytosed to be able to infect new host cells.
IBV infection in chickens presents with respiratory distress which can lead to a decrease in egg production or quality. The virus is spread quickly between individuals leading to a morbidity rate of 100% in bird populations that have not been vaccinated.

Method Real-Time RT-PCR.
Sample Type
Tissue (tracheal mucosa, lung, kidney, oviduct),Culture, Swab/Secretion (Respiratory), Tissue on FTA Card
Transport Condition Samples should be transported at 4°C and must be delivered within 24 h of collection.
Tissue and swabs must be sent in RNA Preservative media. It is not required to add RNA preservative media to culture.
Turn Around Time (TAT) Normal Turnaround time for pathogen Identification is within 5 working days.
Urgent Samples will be reported within half of the minimum test period & will be Charged Double.
Samples delivered after 11:00 AM will be processed next working day unless urgent.

Links

Validated
Assay Code API-010
Description Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) is a double stranded RNA virus that has a bi-segmented genome and belongs to the genus Avibirnavirus of family Birnaviridae. The two segments, A and B, are enclosed within a nonenveloped icosahedral capsid. IBD is a highly contagious disease of young chickens caused by infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV), characterized by immunosuppression and mortality generally at 3 to 6 weeks of age. The disease is also called as Gumboro disease since it was first discovered in Gumboro, Delaware in 1962.
There are two distinct serotypes of the virus, but only serotype 1 viruses cause disease in poultry.
It is economically important to the poultry industry worldwide due to increased susceptibility to other diseases and negative interference with effective vaccination. In recent years, very virulent strains of IBDV (vvIBDV), causing severe mortality in chicken, have emerged in Europe, Latin America, South-East Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

Method Real -Time RT- PCR.
Sample Type
EDTA blood, Tissue, Tissue on FTA card, Culture.
Transport Condition Samples should be transported at 4°C and must be delivered within 24 h of collection.
Turn Around Time (TAT) Normal Turnaround time for pathogen Identification is within 5 working days.
Urgent Samples will be reported within half of the minimum test period & will be Charged Double.
Samples delivered after 11:00 AM will be processed next working day unless urgent.

Links

Accredited *
Assay Code See Below
Description There are three types of influenza viruses: A, B, and C. Influenza A viruses are members of the family Orthomyxoviridae and are further classified by subtype on the basis of the two main surface glycoproteins hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA).

Birds usually get affected by Type A flu virus, also called as Avian Influenza (AI) virus which constantly evolves by mutation and re-assortment and is generally responsible for the large flu epidemics. The AI virus affects several species of food producing birds (chickens, turkeys, quails, guinea fowl, etc.), as well as pet birds and wild birds. Occasionally mammals may contract avian influenza. There are many AI virus strains, which are usually classified into two categories according to the severity of the disease in poultry:

  • highly pathogenic (HPAI) strains, which can cause severe clinical signs and potentially high mortality rates among poultry, e.g. Avian influenza A viruses of the subtypes H5 and H7, including H5N1, H7N7, and H7N3 viruses, have been associated with HPAI.
  • low pathogenic (LPAI) strains, which typically cause few or no clinical signs in poultry, e.g Influenza H9 virus, which has been identified only in a "low pathogenicity" form. However, LPAI viruses have the potential to evolve into HPAI viruses and this has been documented in some poultry outbreaks.

Equine influenza is caused by two distinct subtypes (H7N7, formerly equi -1, and H3N8, formerly equi -2) of the influenza A virus. It is an acute respiratory infection of horses, donkeys, mules and other equidae. The disease has an incubation period of only one to three days and is capable of causing explosive outbreaks. Horses with horse flu can run a fever, have a dry, hacking cough, runny nose, and become depressed and reluctant to eat or drink for several days, but they usually recover in two to three weeks.

Type B flu virus, unlike the type A flu viruses, is found only in humans. Type B flu may cause a less severe reaction than type A flu virus, but occasionally, it can be extremely harmful. Influenza type B viruses are not classified by subtype and do not cause pandemics.

The influenza C virus infects humans, dogs and pigs, is less common than the other types. It usually causes only mild disease.

Pathogens TestedTesting is available for Influenza A and B, Avian Influenza, Equine Influenza, Influenza H5N1, Subtyping of Influenza (N1 to N9, H1 to H16).

  • API-012 : Influenza A *
  • API-201 : Influenza B *
  • API-016 : Influenza H5 *
  • API-015 : Influenza H7 *
  • API-014 : Influenza H9 *
  • API-017 : Influenza N1 *
  • API-184 : Influenza N1 to N9
  • APH-185 : Influenza H1 to H16

* Accredited Tests.

Refer to the service list for more details.

Method
  • Real-Time RT- PCR
  • PCR
  • Sequencing.
Sample Type
Accredited : Swab/Secretion (Respiratory), Swab/Secretion (Rectal), Tissue.
Specimens must be sent in RNA Preservative media.
Alternatives : Culture.
Transport Condition Samples should be transported at 4°C.
Turn Around Time (TAT) Normal Turnaround time for pathogen Identification is within 5 working days.
Urgent Samples will be reported within half of the minimum test period & will be Charged Double.
Samples delivered after 11:00 AM will be processed next working day unless urgent.

Links