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.
African horse sickness (AHS) virus is a double stranded RNA virus of the family Reoviridae and causes African horse sickness in horses and related species such as mules, donkeys, and zebras. Horses are
most severely affected by the disease. AHS is endemic in the central tropical regions of Africa and has
occasionally extended to Egypt, the Middle East and the southern Arabian Peninsula.
The disease spreads mainly by the bite of insects such as midges (Culicoides) but direct horse to horse
transmission does not occur. The virus can only survive through continuous cycles of transmission
between its hosts-horses and insects. It does not survive in the environment outside of the host. Clinical signs are typically seen five to seven days after infection in the form of fever, redness of the inside surface of the eyelids. The disease progresses to one of the following forms: pulmonary form, cardiac form or mixed form.
There are nine distinct serotypes of AHSV (AHSV-1 to AHSV-9) . Any of the strains can cause disease
with severity ranging from a mild fever to sudden death. The serotypes can be distinguished in serum
neutralisation tests by the specificity of their reactions with neutralising antibodies. Molecular methods for determination of AHSV serotypes have been developed based on a set of nine individual ‘typing’ assays to detect and identify Seg-2 of each AHSV serotype.
Samples should be transported at 4°C and delivered within 24h 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.
The adenoviruses are a group of non-enveloped, icosahedral DNA viruses. Adenovirus infections are ubiquitous in commercially farmed birds, and probably in all avian species.
The avian adenoviruses can be divided into three groups. Group I, or conventional adenoviruses, share a common group antigen. Group II adenoviruses include the viruses of turkey haemorrhagic enteritis (THE), marble spleen disease (MSD) and group II splenomegaly of chickens. These viruses also share a common antigen. Group III viruses, the egg drop syndrome (EDS) viruses, are widely distributed in waterfowl but can easily infect chickens, resulting in the production of abnormal eggshells. While many infections are subclinical and appear to be of little economic or welfare importance, significant outbreaks of disease associated with adenovirus do occur.
Samples should be transported at 4°C and delivered within 24h 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.
Bluetongue (BT) is an infectious, non -contagious, vector-borne viral disease that affects wild and domestic ruminants such as sheep, goats, cattle, buffaloes, deer, most species of African antelope and various other vertebrate hosts. It is transmitted by midges, small insects, of the genus Culicoides. In sheep,Bluetongue virus (BTV) causes an acute disease with high morbidity and mortality. Infection of cattle with BTV does not usually result in clinical signs, with the exception of BTV 8 infection in Europe. Cattle are particularly significant in the epidemiology of the disease due to the prolonged viraemia in the absence of clinical disease. Clinical signs of BT include fever, hyperaemia and congestion, swelling of the face and tongue and cyanosis of the tongue. However in mild cases of the disease, a transitory hyperaemia and slight ocular and nasal discharge may be observed.
Method
Real-Time RT-PCR
Sample Type
Accredited :
EDTA Blood.
Alternatives :
Culture, Tissue.
Transport Condition
Samples should be transported at 4°C and delivered within 24h 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.
Bornavirus is a non-enveloped negative strand ribonucleic acid (RNA) virus. Because it uniquely replicates in the cell nucleus, it has been classified in its own family, Bornaviridae. In 2008, ABV was identified as the causative agent of proventricular dilatation disease (PDD) in psittacines, but the primary reservoir for ABV appears to be waterfowl.
The epidemiology of avian bornavirus infections is poorly characterized, including the natural reservoir(s) of infection and routes of virus transmission. The incubation period in experimentally infected birds ranges from 20 to 200 days after inoculation. Bornavirus RNA can be detected in the feces and cloacal and crop contents of naturally infected birds
Samples should be transported at 4°C. Tissue and swabs must be sent in RNA preservative media.
It is not required to add RNA preservative media to blood.
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.
Bovine virus diarrhea or bovine viral diarrhea (BVD)or bovine viral diarrhoea (UK English) is a disease of cattle which reduces productivity and increases death loss. It is caused by a Pestivirus from the family Flaviviridae. Classical swine fever (CSF) is also caused by a pestivirus. CSF and sometimes BVD are notifiable diseases and eradication programs are administered in many countries worldwide.
The molecular biology of pestiviruses shares many similarities and peculiarities with the human hepaciviruses. Pestiviruses have the ability to establish persistent infection during pregnancy. Persistent infection with pestiviruses often goes unnoticed; for BVDV frequently nonhomologous RNA recombination events lead to the appearance of genetically distinct viruses that are lethal to the host.
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.
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) is a retrovirus that affects cats worldwide. It weakens a cat's immune system over time, leaving them more susceptible to infections and certain cancers. FIV is primarily transmitted through bite wounds, so outdoor cats and those with a history of fighting are at higher risk. It's important for cat owners to be aware of FIV and take preventive measures, such as keeping cats indoors and getting them tested regularly.
Symptoms of cat FIV include poor coat condition, fever that keeps coming back, lack of appetite, inflammation in the mouth and gums,chronic or recurrent infections in the eyes, skin, upper respiratory tract, or bladder, constant diarrhea, persistent eye problems and seizures.
Two sets of primers were designed at a universal thermal cycling condition, and evaluated for detection of FIV RNA by real-time RT-PCR, which will be useful in early diagnosis and consequently addressing the threat of FIV agents in cats.
Method
Real Time RT-PCR
Sample Type
EDTA Blood
Transport Condition
Sample 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.
Equine arteritis virus (EAV) is a single stranded positive sense RNA genome classified in the genus, Arterivirus, family Arteriviridae. Equine viral arteritis (EVA) is a reportable, highly contagious disease associated with sporadic outbreaks of acute respiratory disease and abortion in horses. Infection can spread between horses at mating, by artificial insemination with contaminated semen, by contact with aborted foetuses, or by direct contact with droplets from the respiratory tract, i.e. through coughing and snorting.
EAV primarily infects macrophages and vessel endothelium throughout a horse's body. The initial infection is followed by viral dissemination via the bloodstream, resulting in viremia. Clinical signs first appear two to 13 (average seven) days after infection, and a fever may continue for two to nine days. Acutely infected horses shed the virus in nasal secretions for up to 16 days. EVA is a notifiable disease of horses. The diseases' greatest economic impact is on the horse-breeding industry.
Swabs / secretion and tissue should be transported at 4°C. Semen samples must be frozen after collection and delivered within 24 hours.
It is required to add RNA preservative media to swabs / secretion and tissue only. Contact MBG Lab for specimen tubes containing RNA preservative if required.
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.
Equine herpes virus1 (EHV1) and Equine herpes virus4 (EHV4) are double stranded DNA viruses of the family Herpesviridae, subfamily Alphaherpesvirinae, genus Varicellovirus.They are clinically and pathologically indistinguishable and are the primary pathogens causing respiratory tract disease in young horses from weanling to 2 years of age.
EHV1 and EHV4 are major causes of abortion and respiratory disease in horses, respectively, whereas EHV1 also causes occasional neurological defects in horses. The virus can spread through the air, contaminated equipment, clothing and hands. Clinical signs are most intense and virus shedding most abundant during the first few days of infection. The time between an initial EHV1 infection of the respiratory tract and the onset of neurological signs is about 8-12 days. The neurological symptoms appear suddenly and reach peak intensity within 48 hours.
EHV4 causes rhinopneumonitis in horses and respiratory infection in foals, leaving a lifelong latent infection in affected animals. These horses are usually the source for new infection in foals over two months old, weanlings, and yearlings. Symptoms include fever, loss of appetite, and nasal discharge. Most infected animals recover in one to three weeks, but death can occur in environments with overcrowding and other stress factors. EHV4 rarely causes abortion in infected pregnant mares unlike its EHV1 counterpart.
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.
Equine infectious anaemia virus (EIAV)is a retrovirus (ssRNA) belonging to the lentivirus subfamily of Retroviridae. Equine infectious anaemia (EIA) occurs world-wide. The infection, formerly known as swamp fever, is limited to equids. The disease is characterised by recurrent febrile episodes, thrombocytopenia, anaemia, rapid loss of weight and oedema of the lower parts of the body. The incubation period is normally 1-3 weeks, but may be as long as 3 months. In acute cases, lymph nodes, spleen and liver are hyperaemic and enlarged. Once a horse is infected with EIAV, its blood remains infectious for the remainder of its life. This means that the horse is a viraemic carrier and can potentially transmit the infection to other horses. Transmission occurs by transfer of blood from an infected horse. EIAV is not considered a risk for human health.
Method
Real-Time RT-PCR.
Sample Type
EDTA Blood, Tissue, Culture, Semen
Transport Condition
Samples should be transported at 4°C. All samples must be delivered within 24 h of collection.
Tissue must be sent in RNA Preservative media. It is not required to add RNA preservative media to blood and 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.
Foot and mouth disease (FMD) virus is single stranded positive sense RNA virus of the family Picornaviridae. It causes a severe, highly contagious viral disease of livestock that has a significant economic impact. The disease affects cattle, swine, sheep, goats and other cloven-hoofed ruminants. FMD is characterized by fever and blister-like sores on the tongue and lips, in the mouth, on the teats and between the hooves. The virus is found in excretions and secretions of infected animals and infection spreads to other animals via the respiratory or oral routes .
The incubation period of the disease is 2-14 days.The virus may be present in milk and semen for up to 4 days before the animal shows clinical signs of disease. The severity of clinical signs will depend on the strain of virus, the exposure dose, the age and species of animal and the host immunity
There are seven strains of the FMD virus (A, O, C, SAT1, SAT2, SAT3, and Asia1) which are endemic in different countries worldwide. Morbidity can reach 100% in susceptible populations. Mortality is generally low in adult animals (1-5%), but higher in young calves, lambs and piglets (20% or higher).
Samples should be transported at 4°C. All samples must be delivered within 24 h of collection.
Tissue and secretions must be sent in RNA Preservative media. It is not required to add RNA preservative media to blood, serum and 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 Tested
Testing is available for Influenza A and B, Avian Influenza, Equine Influenza, Influenza H5N1, Subtyping of Influenza (N1 to N9, H1 to H16).
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.
In September 2012, health authorities were notified of several cases of severe hCoV infection caused by a novel virus type hCoV-EMC. The strain was redefined by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses into Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) since it was first reported in Saudi Arabia.
MERS-CoV is a beta coronavirus and causes respiratory infection of humans and dromedary camels. Several studies have confirmed that Dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) are the natural host and zoonotic source of the MERS-CoV infection in humans. Other animal species may also be susceptible to infection with MERS-CoV. However, their epidemiological significance has not been proven.
Positive RT-PCR results for MERS-CoV or isolation of the virus from dromedary camels are notifiable to the OIE . While the impact of MERS-CoV on animal health is very low, human infections have a significant public health impact.
Method
Real-Time RT-PCR.
Sample Type
Accredited :
Swab / Secretion (Respiratory).
Alternatives :
Culture, Serum.
Transport Condition
Samples should be transported at 4°C.
Specimens must be sent in RNA preservative media.
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.
Monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease, caused by Monkeypox virus which is recognized as the most important orthopoxvirus infecton after the eradication of smallpox. Monkeypox virus belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus in the family Poxviridae. The Orthopoxvirus genus also includes variola virus (which causes smallpox), vaccinia virus (used in the smallpox vaccine), and cowpox virus. Monkeypox was first discovered in 1958 when two outbreaks of a pox-like disease occurred in colonies of monkeys kept for research, hence the name Monkeypox. The first human case of Monkeypox was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) during a period of intensified effort to eliminate smallpox. Monkeypox is an infectious viral disease that can occur in both humans and some other animals.
Method
APM-215: Orthopox virus detection & confirmation by PCR & Sequencing. APM-216: Monkeypox virus detection by Real-Time PCR.
Samples should be transported at 4°C and delivered within 24 hours.
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.
Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is a single-stranded RNA virus of the Paramyxoviridae family that causes a contagious disease in birds. The linear RNA genome comprises just over 15K nucleotides that encode 6 genes. The spherical viral particle is enveloped and has external spikes formed by two proteins, hemagglutinin and neuraminidase.
NDV has been shown to be able to infect over 200 species of birds, but the severity of disease produced varies with both host and strain of virus. The virus can survive for several weeks in warm environments such as in manure or between bird feathers and enters the host by ingestion of contaminated food stuff or contact with contaminated bodily fluids.
NDV strains can be categorised as velogenic (highly virulent), mesogenic (intermediate virulence), or lentogenic (nonvirulent). Velogenic strains produce severe nervous and respiratory signs, spread rapidly, and cause up to 90% mortality. Mesogenic strains cause coughing, affect egg quality and production, and result in up to 10% mortality. Lentogenic strains produce mild signs with negligible mortality.
Method
Real-Time RT-PCR.
Sample Type
Swab/Secretion (Respiratory), Swab/Secretion (Rectal), Tissue,Tissue on FTA card, Culture.
Transport Condition
Samples should be transported at 4°C. Stool must be frozen after collection and delivered within 24 hours.
Specimens must be sent in RNA preservative media (except 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.
Nipah virus is an enveloped, negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus in the family Paramyxoviridae,
genus Henipavirus. Primary reservoir for Nipah virus are fruit bats of the genus Pteropus. Domestic swine are extremely susceptible to infection and act as amplifying host. However, infections have also been reported in dogs, cats, horses and goats. Swine infected with Nipah virus may cause aerosols or transmit the disease by direct contact of their respiratory
secretions to other swine. Incubation period in pigs is approximately 7–14 days, but may be as short as four days. Intranasal and oral inoculation of cats with virus experimentally produced disease and incubation periods of 6–8 days have been documented.
Method
Real Time RT-PCR
Sample Type
EDTA Blood, CSF, Swab / Secretion (Respiratory).
Transport Condition
Samples should be transported at 4°C. Urine sample must be frozen after collection and delivered within 24 hours. Specimens must be sent in RNA Preservative media.
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.
The genus Orthopoxvirus contains a number of species that can infect animals and humans. Some members of the genus include variola (smallpox) and vaccinia virus (smallpox vaccine), cowpox virus, monkeypox virus and camelpox virus. The camelpox virus causes the disease camel pox which is a highly contagious skin disease in camelids. It causes skin lesions and a generalized infection. Approximately 25% of young camels that become infected die from the disease, while infection in older camels is generally milder. Camel pox is endemic throughout the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. The virus spreads in three ways: by direct contact, indirect contact, and insect vectors. The virus is spread through milk, saliva, ocular secretions, and nasal secretions, and has been shown to remain virulent outside of a host for 4 months. It is believed that camel ticks (Hyalomma dromedarii) can transmit the disease from one camel to another. This theory is supported by increases in Camel pox infections immediately following heavy rains, during which the camel tick population increases greatly.
Method
Real-Time PCR
Sample Type
Accredited :
EDTA Blood, Tissue (Skin Lesion), 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.
Peste-des-petits-ruminants (PPR) is an acute viral disease of small ruminants characterised by fever, oculonasal discharges, stomatitis, diarrhoea and pneumonia with foul offensive breath. It is caused by a Morbillivirus that belongs to the family Paramyxoviridae. PPR affects mainly sheep and goats and occasionally wild small ruminants. It has been reported on a few occasions in camels, cattle and buffaloes, although their potential role in the circulation of PPR virus (PPRV) is not established.
PPR occurs in Africa except Southern Africa, in the Arabian Peninsula, throughout most of the Near East and Middle East, and in Central and South-East Asia. The clinical disease resembles rinderpest in cattle. It is usually acute and characterised by pyrexia, serous ocular and nasal discharges, erosive lesions on different mucous membranes particularly in the mouth, diarrhoea and pneumonia.
Samples should be transported at 4°C and delivered within 24 hours. It is required to add RNA preservative media to swabs / secretion and tissue only.
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.
Beak and feather disease virus or Circovirus is a small, non-enveloped circular single-stranded DNA virus of the Circoviridae family. The virus causes beak and feather disease (PBFD) in avian species specifically psittacine birds such as Cockatoos, Macaws, African grey parrots and Ringnecked parakeets. Beak and feather disease virus typically targets actively growing cells like beak, feather, and the cells of the immune system resulting in secondary bacterial, fungal or parasitic infections. The viral particles remain viable in the environment for months.
Transmission of the virus from one individual to another is through direct contact, inhalation of feather dust or ingestion of infected faecal material. Clinical signs of the disease include irreversible loss of feathers, shedding of developing feathers, development of abnormal beak or feathers, and lesions on the beak and nails.
There is no known treatment and the only way to control the disease is through hygiene, strict isolation or culling of all diseased birds. Early diagnosis is necessary to control disease progression in infected birds and avoid its spread amongst uninfected ones.
Method
Real -Time PCR
Sample Type
Accredited :
EDTA Blood, Tissue, Culture.
Alternatives :
Feather.
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.
Rabies is a zoonotic disease that can affect all mammals. It is caused by Rabies lyssavirus, which is a neurotropic virus and is the type species of the Lyssavirus genus of the Rhabdoviridae family. These viruses are enveloped and have a single stranded negative-sense RNA genome.
Rabies virus is primarily transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal. Saliva becomes infectious a few days prior to the onset of clinical signs. Infection occurs primarily via bite wounds, or infected saliva entering an open cut or wound or mucus membrane, such as those in the mouth, nasal cavity or eyes. Occasional, albeit rare, transmission by inhalation of infected aerosol has been described. The incubation period varies from a few days to 6 months. Clinical observations may only lead to a suspicion of rabies because signs of the disease are not pathognomonic and may vary greatly from one animal to another. The only way to undertake a reliable diagnosis is to identify the virus using laboratory tests.
The disease has high economic consequences due to the losses in livestock and the cost of the implementation of preventive and control measures in animals.
Method
Real-Time RT-PCR
Sample Type
Saliva, Tissue (brain).
Transport Condition
Samples should be transported at 4°C and delivered within 24 hours of collection. Please contact MBG Lab in advance for correct package and transport requirements.
Specimens must be sent in RNA preservative media.
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.
SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19, belongs to the genus Betacoronavirus and was firstly identified in humans in January 2020. It is primarily transmitted through droplets released when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks in close vicinity to other individuals. People can also become infected by touching surfaces that have been contaminated with the droplets of infected persons. The time from exposure to onset of symptoms is typically around five days but may range from two to 14 days.
Common symptoms include fever, cough, fatigue, shortness of breath, and loss of sense of smell and taste. Complications may include pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, multi-organ failure, septic shock, and blood clots.
Method
Real -Time RT-PCR
Sample Type
Accredited :
Swab / Secretion (Respiratory)
Alternatives :
Culture
Transport Condition
Samples should be transported at 4°C and within 24 hours 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.
West Nile virus (WNV) is a zoonotic mosquito-transmitted arbovirus belonging to the genus Flavivirus in the family Flaviviridae. It is a positive-sense, ssRNA virus and causes West Nile fever, that affects birds, humans and horses causing inapparent infection, mild febrile illness, meningitis, encephalitis, or death. The arbovirus is maintained in nature by cycling through birds and mosquitoes.WNV also causes sporadic disease in other species including squirrels, chipmunks, bats, dogs, cats, white-tailed deer, reindeer, sheep, alpacas, alligators and harbour seals. Dromedary camel has also been implicated as a possible source for the viral infection.
For many avian species, WNV infection causes no overt signs while other birds, such as American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) and blue jays (Cyanocitta cristata), often succumb to fatal systemic illness. Most species of birds can become infected with WNV, however, the clinical outcome of infection is variable. Some species appear resistant while others such as American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) and blue jays (Cyanocitta cristata) suffer fatal neurologic disease.
Clinical signs of WNV infection in horses arise from viral-induced encephalitis or encephalomyelitis. Affected horses frequently demonstrate mild to severe ataxia. Some horses exhibit weakness, muscle fasciculation, and cranial nerve deficits.
Brain and spinal cord are the preferred tissues for virus isolation from horses. Bird tissues generally contain higher concentrations of virus than equine tissues. In birds, kidney, heart, brain, liver or intestine can yield virus isolates.
Samples should be transported at 4°C. Tissue must be sent in RNA preservative media.
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.
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.
African horse sickness (AHS) virus is a double stranded RNA virus of the family Reoviridae and causes African horse sickness in horses and related species such as mules, donkeys, and zebras. Horses are
most severely affected by the disease. AHS is endemic in the central tropical regions of Africa and has
occasionally extended to Egypt, the Middle East and the southern Arabian Peninsula.
The disease spreads mainly by the bite of insects such as midges (Culicoides) but direct horse to horse
transmission does not occur. The virus can only survive through continuous cycles of transmission
between its hosts-horses and insects. It does not survive in the environment outside of the host. Clinical signs are typically seen five to seven days after infection in the form of fever, redness of the inside surface of the eyelids. The disease progresses to one of the following forms: pulmonary form, cardiac form or mixed form.
There are nine distinct serotypes of AHSV (AHSV-1 to AHSV-9) . Any of the strains can cause disease
with severity ranging from a mild fever to sudden death. The serotypes can be distinguished in serum
neutralisation tests by the specificity of their reactions with neutralising antibodies. Molecular methods for determination of AHSV serotypes have been developed based on a set of nine individual ‘typing’ assays to detect and identify Seg-2 of each AHSV serotype.
Samples should be transported at 4°C and delivered within 24h 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.
The adenoviruses are a group of non-enveloped, icosahedral DNA viruses. Adenovirus infections are ubiquitous in commercially farmed birds, and probably in all avian species.
The avian adenoviruses can be divided into three groups. Group I, or conventional adenoviruses, share a common group antigen. Group II adenoviruses include the viruses of turkey haemorrhagic enteritis (THE), marble spleen disease (MSD) and group II splenomegaly of chickens. These viruses also share a common antigen. Group III viruses, the egg drop syndrome (EDS) viruses, are widely distributed in waterfowl but can easily infect chickens, resulting in the production of abnormal eggshells. While many infections are subclinical and appear to be of little economic or welfare importance, significant outbreaks of disease associated with adenovirus do occur.
Samples should be transported at 4°C and delivered within 24h 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.
Bluetongue (BT) is an infectious, non -contagious, vector-borne viral disease that affects wild and domestic ruminants such as sheep, goats, cattle, buffaloes, deer, most species of African antelope and various other vertebrate hosts. It is transmitted by midges, small insects, of the genus Culicoides. In sheep,Bluetongue virus (BTV) causes an acute disease with high morbidity and mortality. Infection of cattle with BTV does not usually result in clinical signs, with the exception of BTV 8 infection in Europe. Cattle are particularly significant in the epidemiology of the disease due to the prolonged viraemia in the absence of clinical disease. Clinical signs of BT include fever, hyperaemia and congestion, swelling of the face and tongue and cyanosis of the tongue. However in mild cases of the disease, a transitory hyperaemia and slight ocular and nasal discharge may be observed.
Method
Real-Time RT-PCR
Sample Type
Accredited :
EDTA Blood.
Alternatives :
Culture, Tissue.
Transport Condition
Samples should be transported at 4°C and delivered within 24h 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.
Bornavirus is a non-enveloped negative strand ribonucleic acid (RNA) virus. Because it uniquely replicates in the cell nucleus, it has been classified in its own family, Bornaviridae. In 2008, ABV was identified as the causative agent of proventricular dilatation disease (PDD) in psittacines, but the primary reservoir for ABV appears to be waterfowl.
The epidemiology of avian bornavirus infections is poorly characterized, including the natural reservoir(s) of infection and routes of virus transmission. The incubation period in experimentally infected birds ranges from 20 to 200 days after inoculation. Bornavirus RNA can be detected in the feces and cloacal and crop contents of naturally infected birds
Samples should be transported at 4°C. Tissue and swabs must be sent in RNA preservative media.
It is not required to add RNA preservative media to blood.
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.
Bovine virus diarrhea or bovine viral diarrhea (BVD)or bovine viral diarrhoea (UK English) is a disease of cattle which reduces productivity and increases death loss. It is caused by a Pestivirus from the family Flaviviridae. Classical swine fever (CSF) is also caused by a pestivirus. CSF and sometimes BVD are notifiable diseases and eradication programs are administered in many countries worldwide.
The molecular biology of pestiviruses shares many similarities and peculiarities with the human hepaciviruses. Pestiviruses have the ability to establish persistent infection during pregnancy. Persistent infection with pestiviruses often goes unnoticed; for BVDV frequently nonhomologous RNA recombination events lead to the appearance of genetically distinct viruses that are lethal to the host.
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.
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) is a retrovirus that affects cats worldwide. It weakens a cat's immune system over time, leaving them more susceptible to infections and certain cancers. FIV is primarily transmitted through bite wounds, so outdoor cats and those with a history of fighting are at higher risk. It's important for cat owners to be aware of FIV and take preventive measures, such as keeping cats indoors and getting them tested regularly.
Symptoms of cat FIV include poor coat condition, fever that keeps coming back, lack of appetite, inflammation in the mouth and gums,chronic or recurrent infections in the eyes, skin, upper respiratory tract, or bladder, constant diarrhea, persistent eye problems and seizures.
Two sets of primers were designed at a universal thermal cycling condition, and evaluated for detection of FIV RNA by real-time RT-PCR, which will be useful in early diagnosis and consequently addressing the threat of FIV agents in cats.
Method
Real Time RT-PCR
Sample Type
EDTA Blood
Transport Condition
Sample 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.
Equine arteritis virus (EAV) is a single stranded positive sense RNA genome classified in the genus, Arterivirus, family Arteriviridae. Equine viral arteritis (EVA) is a reportable, highly contagious disease associated with sporadic outbreaks of acute respiratory disease and abortion in horses. Infection can spread between horses at mating, by artificial insemination with contaminated semen, by contact with aborted foetuses, or by direct contact with droplets from the respiratory tract, i.e. through coughing and snorting.
EAV primarily infects macrophages and vessel endothelium throughout a horse's body. The initial infection is followed by viral dissemination via the bloodstream, resulting in viremia. Clinical signs first appear two to 13 (average seven) days after infection, and a fever may continue for two to nine days. Acutely infected horses shed the virus in nasal secretions for up to 16 days. EVA is a notifiable disease of horses. The diseases' greatest economic impact is on the horse-breeding industry.
Swabs / secretion and tissue should be transported at 4°C. Semen samples must be frozen after collection and delivered within 24 hours.
It is required to add RNA preservative media to swabs / secretion and tissue only. Contact MBG Lab for specimen tubes containing RNA preservative if required.
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.
Equine herpes virus1 (EHV1) and Equine herpes virus4 (EHV4) are double stranded DNA viruses of the family Herpesviridae, subfamily Alphaherpesvirinae, genus Varicellovirus.They are clinically and pathologically indistinguishable and are the primary pathogens causing respiratory tract disease in young horses from weanling to 2 years of age.
EHV1 and EHV4 are major causes of abortion and respiratory disease in horses, respectively, whereas EHV1 also causes occasional neurological defects in horses. The virus can spread through the air, contaminated equipment, clothing and hands. Clinical signs are most intense and virus shedding most abundant during the first few days of infection. The time between an initial EHV1 infection of the respiratory tract and the onset of neurological signs is about 8-12 days. The neurological symptoms appear suddenly and reach peak intensity within 48 hours.
EHV4 causes rhinopneumonitis in horses and respiratory infection in foals, leaving a lifelong latent infection in affected animals. These horses are usually the source for new infection in foals over two months old, weanlings, and yearlings. Symptoms include fever, loss of appetite, and nasal discharge. Most infected animals recover in one to three weeks, but death can occur in environments with overcrowding and other stress factors. EHV4 rarely causes abortion in infected pregnant mares unlike its EHV1 counterpart.
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.
Equine infectious anaemia virus (EIAV)is a retrovirus (ssRNA) belonging to the lentivirus subfamily of Retroviridae. Equine infectious anaemia (EIA) occurs world-wide. The infection, formerly known as swamp fever, is limited to equids. The disease is characterised by recurrent febrile episodes, thrombocytopenia, anaemia, rapid loss of weight and oedema of the lower parts of the body. The incubation period is normally 1-3 weeks, but may be as long as 3 months. In acute cases, lymph nodes, spleen and liver are hyperaemic and enlarged. Once a horse is infected with EIAV, its blood remains infectious for the remainder of its life. This means that the horse is a viraemic carrier and can potentially transmit the infection to other horses. Transmission occurs by transfer of blood from an infected horse. EIAV is not considered a risk for human health.
Method
Real-Time RT-PCR.
Sample Type
EDTA Blood, Tissue, Culture, Semen
Transport Condition
Samples should be transported at 4°C. All samples must be delivered within 24 h of collection.
Tissue must be sent in RNA Preservative media. It is not required to add RNA preservative media to blood and 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.
Foot and mouth disease (FMD) virus is single stranded positive sense RNA virus of the family Picornaviridae. It causes a severe, highly contagious viral disease of livestock that has a significant economic impact. The disease affects cattle, swine, sheep, goats and other cloven-hoofed ruminants. FMD is characterized by fever and blister-like sores on the tongue and lips, in the mouth, on the teats and between the hooves. The virus is found in excretions and secretions of infected animals and infection spreads to other animals via the respiratory or oral routes .
The incubation period of the disease is 2-14 days.The virus may be present in milk and semen for up to 4 days before the animal shows clinical signs of disease. The severity of clinical signs will depend on the strain of virus, the exposure dose, the age and species of animal and the host immunity
There are seven strains of the FMD virus (A, O, C, SAT1, SAT2, SAT3, and Asia1) which are endemic in different countries worldwide. Morbidity can reach 100% in susceptible populations. Mortality is generally low in adult animals (1-5%), but higher in young calves, lambs and piglets (20% or higher).
Samples should be transported at 4°C. All samples must be delivered within 24 h of collection.
Tissue and secretions must be sent in RNA Preservative media. It is not required to add RNA preservative media to blood, serum and 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 Tested
Testing is available for Influenza A and B, Avian Influenza, Equine Influenza, Influenza H5N1, Subtyping of Influenza (N1 to N9, H1 to H16).
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.
In September 2012, health authorities were notified of several cases of severe hCoV infection caused by a novel virus type hCoV-EMC. The strain was redefined by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses into Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) since it was first reported in Saudi Arabia.
MERS-CoV is a beta coronavirus and causes respiratory infection of humans and dromedary camels. Several studies have confirmed that Dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) are the natural host and zoonotic source of the MERS-CoV infection in humans. Other animal species may also be susceptible to infection with MERS-CoV. However, their epidemiological significance has not been proven.
Positive RT-PCR results for MERS-CoV or isolation of the virus from dromedary camels are notifiable to the OIE . While the impact of MERS-CoV on animal health is very low, human infections have a significant public health impact.
Method
Real-Time RT-PCR.
Sample Type
Accredited :
Swab / Secretion (Respiratory).
Alternatives :
Culture, Serum.
Transport Condition
Samples should be transported at 4°C.
Specimens must be sent in RNA preservative media.
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.
Monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease, caused by Monkeypox virus which is recognized as the most important orthopoxvirus infecton after the eradication of smallpox. Monkeypox virus belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus in the family Poxviridae. The Orthopoxvirus genus also includes variola virus (which causes smallpox), vaccinia virus (used in the smallpox vaccine), and cowpox virus. Monkeypox was first discovered in 1958 when two outbreaks of a pox-like disease occurred in colonies of monkeys kept for research, hence the name Monkeypox. The first human case of Monkeypox was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) during a period of intensified effort to eliminate smallpox. Monkeypox is an infectious viral disease that can occur in both humans and some other animals.
Method
APM-215: Orthopox virus detection & confirmation by PCR & Sequencing. APM-216: Monkeypox virus detection by Real-Time PCR.
Samples should be transported at 4°C and delivered within 24 hours.
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.
Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is a single-stranded RNA virus of the Paramyxoviridae family that causes a contagious disease in birds. The linear RNA genome comprises just over 15K nucleotides that encode 6 genes. The spherical viral particle is enveloped and has external spikes formed by two proteins, hemagglutinin and neuraminidase.
NDV has been shown to be able to infect over 200 species of birds, but the severity of disease produced varies with both host and strain of virus. The virus can survive for several weeks in warm environments such as in manure or between bird feathers and enters the host by ingestion of contaminated food stuff or contact with contaminated bodily fluids.
NDV strains can be categorised as velogenic (highly virulent), mesogenic (intermediate virulence), or lentogenic (nonvirulent). Velogenic strains produce severe nervous and respiratory signs, spread rapidly, and cause up to 90% mortality. Mesogenic strains cause coughing, affect egg quality and production, and result in up to 10% mortality. Lentogenic strains produce mild signs with negligible mortality.
Method
Real-Time RT-PCR.
Sample Type
Swab/Secretion (Respiratory), Swab/Secretion (Rectal), Tissue,Tissue on FTA card, Culture.
Transport Condition
Samples should be transported at 4°C. Stool must be frozen after collection and delivered within 24 hours.
Specimens must be sent in RNA preservative media (except 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.
Nipah virus is an enveloped, negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus in the family Paramyxoviridae,
genus Henipavirus. Primary reservoir for Nipah virus are fruit bats of the genus Pteropus. Domestic swine are extremely susceptible to infection and act as amplifying host. However, infections have also been reported in dogs, cats, horses and goats. Swine infected with Nipah virus may cause aerosols or transmit the disease by direct contact of their respiratory
secretions to other swine. Incubation period in pigs is approximately 7–14 days, but may be as short as four days. Intranasal and oral inoculation of cats with virus experimentally produced disease and incubation periods of 6–8 days have been documented.
Method
Real Time RT-PCR
Sample Type
EDTA Blood, CSF, Swab / Secretion (Respiratory).
Transport Condition
Samples should be transported at 4°C. Urine sample must be frozen after collection and delivered within 24 hours. Specimens must be sent in RNA Preservative media.
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.
The genus Orthopoxvirus contains a number of species that can infect animals and humans. Some members of the genus include variola (smallpox) and vaccinia virus (smallpox vaccine), cowpox virus, monkeypox virus and camelpox virus. The camelpox virus causes the disease camel pox which is a highly contagious skin disease in camelids. It causes skin lesions and a generalized infection. Approximately 25% of young camels that become infected die from the disease, while infection in older camels is generally milder. Camel pox is endemic throughout the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. The virus spreads in three ways: by direct contact, indirect contact, and insect vectors. The virus is spread through milk, saliva, ocular secretions, and nasal secretions, and has been shown to remain virulent outside of a host for 4 months. It is believed that camel ticks (Hyalomma dromedarii) can transmit the disease from one camel to another. This theory is supported by increases in Camel pox infections immediately following heavy rains, during which the camel tick population increases greatly.
Method
Real-Time PCR
Sample Type
Accredited :
EDTA Blood, Tissue (Skin Lesion), 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.
Peste-des-petits-ruminants (PPR) is an acute viral disease of small ruminants characterised by fever, oculonasal discharges, stomatitis, diarrhoea and pneumonia with foul offensive breath. It is caused by a Morbillivirus that belongs to the family Paramyxoviridae. PPR affects mainly sheep and goats and occasionally wild small ruminants. It has been reported on a few occasions in camels, cattle and buffaloes, although their potential role in the circulation of PPR virus (PPRV) is not established.
PPR occurs in Africa except Southern Africa, in the Arabian Peninsula, throughout most of the Near East and Middle East, and in Central and South-East Asia. The clinical disease resembles rinderpest in cattle. It is usually acute and characterised by pyrexia, serous ocular and nasal discharges, erosive lesions on different mucous membranes particularly in the mouth, diarrhoea and pneumonia.
Samples should be transported at 4°C and delivered within 24 hours. It is required to add RNA preservative media to swabs / secretion and tissue only.
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.
Beak and feather disease virus or Circovirus is a small, non-enveloped circular single-stranded DNA virus of the Circoviridae family. The virus causes beak and feather disease (PBFD) in avian species specifically psittacine birds such as Cockatoos, Macaws, African grey parrots and Ringnecked parakeets. Beak and feather disease virus typically targets actively growing cells like beak, feather, and the cells of the immune system resulting in secondary bacterial, fungal or parasitic infections. The viral particles remain viable in the environment for months.
Transmission of the virus from one individual to another is through direct contact, inhalation of feather dust or ingestion of infected faecal material. Clinical signs of the disease include irreversible loss of feathers, shedding of developing feathers, development of abnormal beak or feathers, and lesions on the beak and nails.
There is no known treatment and the only way to control the disease is through hygiene, strict isolation or culling of all diseased birds. Early diagnosis is necessary to control disease progression in infected birds and avoid its spread amongst uninfected ones.
Method
Real -Time PCR
Sample Type
Accredited :
EDTA Blood, Tissue, Culture.
Alternatives :
Feather.
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.
Rabies is a zoonotic disease that can affect all mammals. It is caused by Rabies lyssavirus, which is a neurotropic virus and is the type species of the Lyssavirus genus of the Rhabdoviridae family. These viruses are enveloped and have a single stranded negative-sense RNA genome.
Rabies virus is primarily transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal. Saliva becomes infectious a few days prior to the onset of clinical signs. Infection occurs primarily via bite wounds, or infected saliva entering an open cut or wound or mucus membrane, such as those in the mouth, nasal cavity or eyes. Occasional, albeit rare, transmission by inhalation of infected aerosol has been described. The incubation period varies from a few days to 6 months. Clinical observations may only lead to a suspicion of rabies because signs of the disease are not pathognomonic and may vary greatly from one animal to another. The only way to undertake a reliable diagnosis is to identify the virus using laboratory tests.
The disease has high economic consequences due to the losses in livestock and the cost of the implementation of preventive and control measures in animals.
Method
Real-Time RT-PCR
Sample Type
Saliva, Tissue (brain).
Transport Condition
Samples should be transported at 4°C and delivered within 24 hours of collection. Please contact MBG Lab in advance for correct package and transport requirements.
Specimens must be sent in RNA preservative media.
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.
SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19, belongs to the genus Betacoronavirus and was firstly identified in humans in January 2020. It is primarily transmitted through droplets released when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks in close vicinity to other individuals. People can also become infected by touching surfaces that have been contaminated with the droplets of infected persons. The time from exposure to onset of symptoms is typically around five days but may range from two to 14 days.
Common symptoms include fever, cough, fatigue, shortness of breath, and loss of sense of smell and taste. Complications may include pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, multi-organ failure, septic shock, and blood clots.
Method
Real -Time RT-PCR
Sample Type
Accredited :
Swab / Secretion (Respiratory)
Alternatives :
Culture
Transport Condition
Samples should be transported at 4°C and within 24 hours 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.
West Nile virus (WNV) is a zoonotic mosquito-transmitted arbovirus belonging to the genus Flavivirus in the family Flaviviridae. It is a positive-sense, ssRNA virus and causes West Nile fever, that affects birds, humans and horses causing inapparent infection, mild febrile illness, meningitis, encephalitis, or death. The arbovirus is maintained in nature by cycling through birds and mosquitoes.WNV also causes sporadic disease in other species including squirrels, chipmunks, bats, dogs, cats, white-tailed deer, reindeer, sheep, alpacas, alligators and harbour seals. Dromedary camel has also been implicated as a possible source for the viral infection.
For many avian species, WNV infection causes no overt signs while other birds, such as American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) and blue jays (Cyanocitta cristata), often succumb to fatal systemic illness. Most species of birds can become infected with WNV, however, the clinical outcome of infection is variable. Some species appear resistant while others such as American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) and blue jays (Cyanocitta cristata) suffer fatal neurologic disease.
Clinical signs of WNV infection in horses arise from viral-induced encephalitis or encephalomyelitis. Affected horses frequently demonstrate mild to severe ataxia. Some horses exhibit weakness, muscle fasciculation, and cranial nerve deficits.
Brain and spinal cord are the preferred tissues for virus isolation from horses. Bird tissues generally contain higher concentrations of virus than equine tissues. In birds, kidney, heart, brain, liver or intestine can yield virus isolates.
Samples should be transported at 4°C. Tissue must be sent in RNA preservative media.
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.
