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.
The genus Anaplasma belonging to the Anaplasmataceae family (order Rickettsiales) comprises obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacteria is one of the predominant tick borne pathogens of veterinary and public health importance.
Anaplasma exhibit a biological cycle involving infection of both invertebrate and vertebrate host with different cell types targeted mainly infection of the red blood cells. Ticks transmit pathogens that cause disease thorough the process of feeding and the incubation period is 5-14 days. Affecting species are ruminants, dogs, horses, camels and also in human (Human granulocytic anaplasmosis). General systemic signs include anaemia, diarrhea, anorexia, and weight loss.
In the initial phase of infection, hosts are usually seronegative and serological cross-reactions with several Anaplasma species are observed. So, in terms of sensitivity and specificity PCR tests are the main approach for a case definition and epidemiological studies compared to other laboratory test methods.
In MBG, instead of detecting closely related species, we have been designed, a genus-specific primers to amplify a conserved region that target entire Anaplasma genus. One of the reasons is that some Anaplasma species are ecologically divergent and not found in the same hosts or vectors.
Diagnosis for sensitive and specific identification of Anaplasma infections usually performed on total DNA from different kind of sample types including blood, culture but in persistently infected animals with intermittent or low-level bacteremia, other tissues might be useful.
Method
PCR & Gel Electrophoresis
Sample Type
EDTA Blood
Transport Condition
Sample should be transported at 4oC. (Refer to MBG-C0014)
Turn Around Time (TAT)
Normal Turnaround time for pathogen Identification is within 3 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.
Babesia also called Nuttallia, is an apicomplexan parasite that infects red blood cells and is transmitted by ticks. Babesia is a protozoan parasite found to infect vertebrate animals, mostly livestock mammals and birds, but also occasionally humans. To date, more than 100 Babesia species have been scientifically described, which are specific to many species of mammals and birds.
In dogs, a large form of Babesia spp. is represented by Babesia canis and small forms of the disease are represented by Babesia gibsoni, B. conradae, and B. vulpes. Babesia canis includes three subspecies (B. caniscanis, B. canisrossi, and B. canisvogeli), which have been identified based on their cross-immunity, serological testing, vector specificity, and molecular phylogeny. Small Babesia spp. include B. gibsoni which comes from Asia, B. conradae found in dogs in the western United States, and B. microti-like founded in Spain, renamed Theileria annae, and later B. vulpes. Domestic dogs and cats can be infected with these Babesia species Dogs can have subclinical disease (i.e. no clinical signs) or illness that ranges from mild (e.g. lethargy, reduced appetite) to severe (e.g. pallor and weakness related to anemia). Severe disease can result in death.
Among the various diagnostic techniques used for detection, Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) assay is one of the sensitive, reliable and desirable methods for specific detection and quantification of causative agents.
Considering of the geographical distribution of Babesia spp. infections in world, we established a series of one-step real-time PCR assays for detection of specific or genus babesia species as shown below. All assays were optimized at a universal thermal cycling condition, and evaluated under monoplex or multiplex condition for detection of babesia DNA, which will be useful in early diagnosis and consequently addressing the threat of babesia agents in dogs.
Pathogens Tested
APB-218 - Babesia species (Excluding Babesia microtigroup)
APB-219 - Babesia gibsoni (Asian genotype) (inclusive of Babesia spp.)
Normal Turnaround time for pathogen Identification is within 3 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.
Theileria equi (T. equi) and Babesia caballi (B. caballi) are single celled parasitic protozoans closely related to plasmodium and cause equine piroplasmosis. It does not survive outside its hosts and can only be transmitted through a tick vector, affecting all equine species, such as horses, mules, donkeys and zebras. Infected animals may remain carriers of these blood parasites for long periods and act as sources of infection for other ticks. The disease primarily occurs throughout the tropics and subtropics. The protozoa invades the red blood cells of infected animals, leading to disease.
The clinical signs of equine piroplasmosis are often nonspecific, and the disease can easily be confused with other similar hemolytic conditions presenting fever, anemia and jaundice. The disease is not directly contagious. Rather it is transferred by blood from an infected animal to a susceptible animal or insect. Documented case fatality rates vary from 10-50%. Most animals in endemic areas survive infection.
Equine piroplasmosis is a "reportable disease" under the Health of Animals Act. Equine piroplasmosis can occur in per-acute, acute, sub-acute and chronic forms. This assay is used for the detection of both Theileria equi and Babesia caballi, however, it cannot be used to differentiate between the two subtypes.
Method
Real- Time PCR
Sample Type
Accredited :
EDTA blood.
Transport Condition
Samples should be transported at 4°C.
Turn Around Time (TAT)
Normal Turnaround time for pathogen Identification is within 3 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.
Theileriosis is a diseases caused by Theileria annulata (T.annulata), an intracellular protozoa. It is usually transmitted by ticks and through infected water. Theileriosis have a high impact on the health, welfare, and productivity of livestock species with the highest prevalence in tropical subtropical climate.
A secretion of infective sporozoites during tick feeding into feeding sites of mammalian species and clinical signs include fever, slight nasal and ocular discharge, anorexia, salivation, enlargement of superficial lymph nodes. Infection can be controlled by drugs or vaccines, although these are not fully efficient.
Diagnosis of the disease based on microscopic examination of Giemsa stained blood smears and lymph node biopsy is disadvantageous in case of low parasitemia and carrier state animals. So, the specific and sensitive molecular method is used to detect the parasite infection is PCR.
Method
Real Time PCR
Sample Type
Recommended specimen types: Tissue or EDTA Blood (>=3mL).
Transport Condition
Sample should be transported at 4oC. (Refer to MBG-C0014)
Turn Around Time (TAT)
Normal Turnaround time for pathogen Identification is within 3 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.
Trypanosoma evansi and T. brucei are flagellated protozoan parasites that live in the blood, lymph and various tissues of their vertebrate hosts. Trypanosoma evansi causes a trypanosomosis known as "surra". It has a wide host range. In some countries incidence of surra increases significantly during the rainy season when biting fly populations have greatly increased. Surra affects mainly camels and horses but buffaloes and cattle are also affected. Other species that develop severe disease include donkeys, mules, deer, llamas, dogs, cats, cattle and buffalo. Sheep, goats, pigs and elephants may occasionally develop mild or chronic disease.T. evansi has a wide distribution in Asia, North Africa (extending into tsetse areas with T. brucei infections) and Central and South America.
T. evansi is transmitted from animal to animal by mechanical vectors such as hematophagous flies, including Tabanus spp. and Musca spp., as well as Lyperosia, Stomoxys and Atylotus genera. Tabanids (horse flies) are the most significant vectors. Infection occurs through blood from infected animals and occasionally through meat and milk. T. evansi frequently localizes extravascularly in tissues including the central nervous system. The disease is characterized by recurrent episodes of fever and parasitaemia. Abortions have been reported in buffaloes and camels.
Pathogens Tested
This assay is used for the detection of both Trypanosoma evansi and Trypanosoma brucei, however, it cannot differentiate between the two subtypes.
Method
Real-Time PCR
Sample Type
Accredited :
EDTA blood, Culture.
Alternatives :
Tissue.
Transport Condition
Samples should be transported at 4°C.
Turn Around Time (TAT)
Normal Turnaround time for pathogen Identification is within 3 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.
The genus Anaplasma belonging to the Anaplasmataceae family (order Rickettsiales) comprises obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacteria is one of the predominant tick borne pathogens of veterinary and public health importance.
Anaplasma exhibit a biological cycle involving infection of both invertebrate and vertebrate host with different cell types targeted mainly infection of the red blood cells. Ticks transmit pathogens that cause disease thorough the process of feeding and the incubation period is 5-14 days. Affecting species are ruminants, dogs, horses, camels and also in human (Human granulocytic anaplasmosis). General systemic signs include anaemia, diarrhea, anorexia, and weight loss.
In the initial phase of infection, hosts are usually seronegative and serological cross-reactions with several Anaplasma species are observed. So, in terms of sensitivity and specificity PCR tests are the main approach for a case definition and epidemiological studies compared to other laboratory test methods.
In MBG, instead of detecting closely related species, we have been designed, a genus-specific primers to amplify a conserved region that target entire Anaplasma genus. One of the reasons is that some Anaplasma species are ecologically divergent and not found in the same hosts or vectors.
Diagnosis for sensitive and specific identification of Anaplasma infections usually performed on total DNA from different kind of sample types including blood, culture but in persistently infected animals with intermittent or low-level bacteremia, other tissues might be useful.
Method
PCR & Gel Electrophoresis
Sample Type
EDTA Blood
Transport Condition
Sample should be transported at 4oC. (Refer to MBG-C0014)
Turn Around Time (TAT)
Normal Turnaround time for pathogen Identification is within 3 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.
Babesia also called Nuttallia, is an apicomplexan parasite that infects red blood cells and is transmitted by ticks. Babesia is a protozoan parasite found to infect vertebrate animals, mostly livestock mammals and birds, but also occasionally humans. To date, more than 100 Babesia species have been scientifically described, which are specific to many species of mammals and birds.
In dogs, a large form of Babesia spp. is represented by Babesia canis and small forms of the disease are represented by Babesia gibsoni, B. conradae, and B. vulpes. Babesia canis includes three subspecies (B. caniscanis, B. canisrossi, and B. canisvogeli), which have been identified based on their cross-immunity, serological testing, vector specificity, and molecular phylogeny. Small Babesia spp. include B. gibsoni which comes from Asia, B. conradae found in dogs in the western United States, and B. microti-like founded in Spain, renamed Theileria annae, and later B. vulpes. Domestic dogs and cats can be infected with these Babesia species Dogs can have subclinical disease (i.e. no clinical signs) or illness that ranges from mild (e.g. lethargy, reduced appetite) to severe (e.g. pallor and weakness related to anemia). Severe disease can result in death.
Among the various diagnostic techniques used for detection, Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) assay is one of the sensitive, reliable and desirable methods for specific detection and quantification of causative agents.
Considering of the geographical distribution of Babesia spp. infections in world, we established a series of one-step real-time PCR assays for detection of specific or genus babesia species as shown below. All assays were optimized at a universal thermal cycling condition, and evaluated under monoplex or multiplex condition for detection of babesia DNA, which will be useful in early diagnosis and consequently addressing the threat of babesia agents in dogs.
Pathogens Tested
APB-218 - Babesia species (Excluding Babesia microtigroup)
APB-219 - Babesia gibsoni (Asian genotype) (inclusive of Babesia spp.)
Normal Turnaround time for pathogen Identification is within 3 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.
Theileria equi (T. equi) and Babesia caballi (B. caballi) are single celled parasitic protozoans closely related to plasmodium and cause equine piroplasmosis. It does not survive outside its hosts and can only be transmitted through a tick vector, affecting all equine species, such as horses, mules, donkeys and zebras. Infected animals may remain carriers of these blood parasites for long periods and act as sources of infection for other ticks. The disease primarily occurs throughout the tropics and subtropics. The protozoa invades the red blood cells of infected animals, leading to disease.
The clinical signs of equine piroplasmosis are often nonspecific, and the disease can easily be confused with other similar hemolytic conditions presenting fever, anemia and jaundice. The disease is not directly contagious. Rather it is transferred by blood from an infected animal to a susceptible animal or insect. Documented case fatality rates vary from 10-50%. Most animals in endemic areas survive infection.
Equine piroplasmosis is a "reportable disease" under the Health of Animals Act. Equine piroplasmosis can occur in per-acute, acute, sub-acute and chronic forms. This assay is used for the detection of both Theileria equi and Babesia caballi, however, it cannot be used to differentiate between the two subtypes.
Method
Real- Time PCR
Sample Type
Accredited :
EDTA blood.
Transport Condition
Samples should be transported at 4°C.
Turn Around Time (TAT)
Normal Turnaround time for pathogen Identification is within 3 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.
Theileriosis is a diseases caused by Theileria annulata (T.annulata), an intracellular protozoa. It is usually transmitted by ticks and through infected water. Theileriosis have a high impact on the health, welfare, and productivity of livestock species with the highest prevalence in tropical subtropical climate.
A secretion of infective sporozoites during tick feeding into feeding sites of mammalian species and clinical signs include fever, slight nasal and ocular discharge, anorexia, salivation, enlargement of superficial lymph nodes. Infection can be controlled by drugs or vaccines, although these are not fully efficient.
Diagnosis of the disease based on microscopic examination of Giemsa stained blood smears and lymph node biopsy is disadvantageous in case of low parasitemia and carrier state animals. So, the specific and sensitive molecular method is used to detect the parasite infection is PCR.
Method
Real Time PCR
Sample Type
Recommended specimen types: Tissue or EDTA Blood (>=3mL).
Transport Condition
Sample should be transported at 4oC. (Refer to MBG-C0014)
Turn Around Time (TAT)
Normal Turnaround time for pathogen Identification is within 3 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.
Trypanosoma evansi and T. brucei are flagellated protozoan parasites that live in the blood, lymph and various tissues of their vertebrate hosts. Trypanosoma evansi causes a trypanosomosis known as "surra". It has a wide host range. In some countries incidence of surra increases significantly during the rainy season when biting fly populations have greatly increased. Surra affects mainly camels and horses but buffaloes and cattle are also affected. Other species that develop severe disease include donkeys, mules, deer, llamas, dogs, cats, cattle and buffalo. Sheep, goats, pigs and elephants may occasionally develop mild or chronic disease.T. evansi has a wide distribution in Asia, North Africa (extending into tsetse areas with T. brucei infections) and Central and South America.
T. evansi is transmitted from animal to animal by mechanical vectors such as hematophagous flies, including Tabanus spp. and Musca spp., as well as Lyperosia, Stomoxys and Atylotus genera. Tabanids (horse flies) are the most significant vectors. Infection occurs through blood from infected animals and occasionally through meat and milk. T. evansi frequently localizes extravascularly in tissues including the central nervous system. The disease is characterized by recurrent episodes of fever and parasitaemia. Abortions have been reported in buffaloes and camels.
Pathogens Tested
This assay is used for the detection of both Trypanosoma evansi and Trypanosoma brucei, however, it cannot differentiate between the two subtypes.
Method
Real-Time PCR
Sample Type
Accredited :
EDTA blood, Culture.
Alternatives :
Tissue.
Transport Condition
Samples should be transported at 4°C.
Turn Around Time (TAT)
Normal Turnaround time for pathogen Identification is within 3 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.
