avian & livestock assay data sheet
Mycobacterium avium
and other Mycobacteria
species
Test codes:
B0029
- Ultrasensitive qualitative detection of
Mycobacterium avium, subsp.
avium by real time polymerase chain reaction. This
assay does not detect subspecies
paratuberculosis or
other mycobacteria species.
B0030
- Ultrasensitive qualitative detection of
Mycobacterium avium, subsp.
paratuberculosis (Johne's disease) by real time
polymerase chain reaction. This assay does not detect subspecies
avium or other mycobacteria species.
P0006
- Ultrasensitive qualitative
mycobacteria
screen by real
time
polymerase chain reaction.
Assay
detects but does not
differentiate a wide range of mycobacteria,
including M. tuberculosis,
M. bovis, M. microti, M. intracellulare, M. avium, M. gastri, M.
africanum, M. scrofulaceum, M. ulcerans, M. simiae, M. kansasii,
M. chelonae, M. fortuitum, M. marinum, M. genavense,
M. szulgai
and others.
NOTE: THE P0006 TEST IS NOT PERFORMED
ON SAMPLES TAKEN FROM RUMINANTS OWNED OR LOCATED IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA.
P0007
- Ultrasensitive qualitative
mycobacteria
species identification
by real time polymerase chain reaction and sequence analysis. This 2-stage assay detects and
differentiates a wide range of mycobacteria, including
M. tuberculosis/bovis/microti ("M.tb
complex"), M. avium, M. intracellulare, M. africanum, M. gastri,
M. scrofulaceum, M. ulcerans, M. simiae, M. kansasii, M.
chelonae,
M. fortuitum,
M. marinum, M.
genavense, M. szulgai
and others.
NOTE: THE P0007 TEST IS NOT PERFORMED
ON SAMPLES TAKEN FROM RUMINANTS OWNED OR LOCATED IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA.
Many
different mycobacteria can cause disease in birds, mammals and
reptiles. Infections occur through contact with other infected
animals or humans through inhalation or the digestive route
(Moreland, 1970). Infected animals can become reservoirs,
causing outbreaks of disease. Mycobacterial infections have also
been reported in many other captive and wildlife species.
Detection of
mycobacterial infections has relied on tuberculin skin response,
serological testing, histopathology, microscopy and culture
identification. Among these, the most frequently used methods
are culture identification and the tuberculin skin test (also
known as the PPD, for Purified Protein Derivative), the latter
being a routine test in quarantine and preventive medicine
protocols (Fowler, 1993). However, the PPD test is not
adequately sensitive or specific in many species and the rate of
false negatives is high. Culture and associated biochemical
tests for the identification of mycobacteria species are slow
and painstaking procedures, and require careful collection and
preservation of specimens in order to obtain accurate results.
PCR
detection of mycobacterial DNA is highly sensitive when proper
specimens are carefully collected. Sample types and collection
techniques vary by species; deep respiratory samples obtained
using bronchial lavage are preferred for some species. Gastric
lavage can also be a useful sampling technique. Pathology
samples should be taken from foci most likely to contain the
pathogen -- typically lymph nodes or lung or other organ
lesions. Trunk washes are used to obtain samples from elephants
(National Tuberculosis Working Group for Zoo and Wildlife
Species, 2003).
In addition
to the detection of a number of mycobacterial species by real
time PCR, identification of mycobacteria to the species level
can be accomplished rapidly through sequence analysis of PCR
products. Ultrasensitive detection of mycobacteria by PCR and
subsequent sequence analysis not only allows reliable
detection of various species of mycobacteria but in many cases
also enables identification of mycobacteria at the species
level.
Utilities:
-
Help confirm the disease causing agent
-
Help ensure that flocks are free of disease-causing
mycobacteria
-
Early prevention of spread of mycobacteria among a flock
-
Minimize human exposure to disease-causing mycobacteria
-
Safety monitoring of biological products and vaccines
that derive from birds
References:
Brammer, D.W., O’Rourke, C.M., Heath, L.A., Chrisp, C.E., Peter,
G.K. and Hofing, G.L. (1995) Mycobacterium kansasii infection in
squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus sciureus). J. Med. Primatol.
24: 231-235.
Calmette, A., Smith, G.H. and Soper, W.B.(1923)
Tubercle Bacillus Infection and Tuberculosis in Man and Animals,
Processes of Infection and Resistance, vol. Xxiii. Williams and
Wilkins Company, Baltimore, 689 pp.
Fowler, M.E. (1993) Zoo &
Animal Medicine: Current Therapy, 3rd ed., vol. xxv. Saunders,
Philadelphia, 617 pp.
Moreland, A.F. (1970) Tuberculosis in
New World primates. Lab. Anim. Care 20: 262-264.
Renquist,
D.M. and Potkay, S. (1979) Mycobacterium scrofulaceum infection
in Erythrocebus patas monkeys. Lab. Anim. Sci. 29: 97-101.
Smith, E.K., Hunt, R.D., Garcia, F.G., Fraser, C.E., Merkal,
R.S., Karlson, A.G. (1973) Avian tuberculosis in monkeys. A
unique mycobacterial infection. Am. Rev. Respir. Dis. 107:
469-471.
National
Tuberculosis Working Group for Zoo and Wildlife Species (2003).
Guidelines for the Control of Tuberculosis in Elephants.
USDA-APHIS: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ac/TBGuidelines2003.pdf
Specimen requirement:
0.2 ml
lesion tissue (fresh or frozen, not fixed), or 0.2 ml
feces, or cloacal swab.
Contact Zoologix if advice is needed to determine an appropriate specimen type for a specific diagnostic application. For specimen types not listed here, please contact Zoologix to confirm specimen acceptability and shipping instructions.
For all
specimen types, if there will be a delay in shipping, or during
very warm weather, refrigerate specimens until shipped and ship
with a cold pack unless more stringent shipping requirements are
specified. Frozen specimens should be shipped so as to remain
frozen in transit. See shipping
instructions for more information.
Turnaround time:
2 business days (5 business days for P0007)
Methodology:
B0029, B0030 and P0006 -
Qualitative real time PCR
P0007 -
Qualitative real time PCR and PCR amplicon sequence analysis
Normal range:
Nondetected