avian & livestock assay data sheet
Pacheco's disease ("psittacine herpes")
Etiologic agent: psittacid herpesviruses (PsHVs)
Test code:
S0090 -
Ultrasensitive qualitative
detection of Pacheco's disease viruses (psittacid
herpesviruses - PsHVs) by real time PCR. This
assay detects but does not differentiate psittacid herpesvirus
genotypes 1, 2, 3 and 4 (serotypes 1, 2 and 3).
Pacheco's
disease is caused by psittacid herpesviruses (PsHVs) which are a
heterogeneous group of viruses divided into four genotypes (Tomaszewski
et al., 2003). PsHV is an enveloped double-stranded DNA virus
belonging to the family alphaherpesvirus. At least three
serotypes of PsHV are recognized. Genotypic and serologic
correlation has indicated that genotypes 1 and 4 correspond to
serotype 1 isolates; genotype 2 corresponds to serotype 2
isolates; genotype 3 corresponds to serotype 3 isolates. Viruses
representing all four genotypes can be found in both the United
States and Europe. In United States, PsHV genotype 1 represents
the predominant type.
Infection of
psittacine birds with Pacheco's disease virus can result in an
acute fatal disease. Many parrot species, originating from
multiple geographic regions, are susceptible to Pacheco's
disease. However, Amazon parrots (Amazona spp.) account for the majority of cases, followed by
African grey parrots (Psittacus
erithacus),
macaws (Ara
spp.), cockatoos (Cacatua spp.), and conures (Aratinga
spp. and Pyrrhura
spp.). Although some infected birds may survive this fatal
disease, they may become latently infected. Some infected birds
may develop no symptoms whatsoever, and these birds become
chronic carriers of the virus.
Whenever
birds die suddenly or show nonspecific signs such as lethargy,
anorexia, ruffled feathers, sinusitis and intermittent diarrhea,
Pacheco’s disease should be included in the differential
diagnosis. The first sign of a problem often occurs when a
seemingly healthy carrier bird is introduced into a collection
and birds start to die suddenly. Any type of stress (eg
breeding) can activate the virus and result in its being shed in
large numbers in the feces. The incubation period is thought to
be as short as a few days in some of the smaller parrots.
Molecular
detection of Pacheco’s disease by PCR is highly sensitive and
specific for this virus. Genotypes 1, 2, 3 and 4 (corresponding
to serotypes 1, 2 and 3) are detected but not differentiated by
PCR.
Utilities:
-
Help confirm the disease causing agent
-
Environmental monitoring
-
Help ensure that bird populations are free of PsHV
-
Early prevention of spread of the virus among bird
populations
-
Minimize human exposure to the virus
-
Safety monitoring of biological products and vaccines
that derive from birds
References:
Tomaszewski, E.K., Kaleta, E.F. and Phalen, D.N. (2003)
Molecular phylogeny of the psittacid herpesviruses causing
Pacheco's disease: correlation of genotype with phenotypic
expression. J Virol. 77:11260-11267.
Specimen requirements:
0.2 ml whole blood in EDTA (purple top) tube, or 0.2 ml feces, or cloacal swab, or swab of the outer
surface of liver, spleen or kidney, or 0.2 ml fresh, frozen or
fixed tissue.
Contact Zoologix if advice is needed to determine an appropriate specimen type for a specific diagnostic application. For specimen types not listed here, please contact Zoologix to confirm specimen acceptability and shipping instructions.
For all
specimen types, if there will be a delay in shipping, or during
very warm weather, refrigerate specimens until shipped and ship
with a cold pack unless more stringent shipping requirements are
specified. Frozen specimens should be shipped so as to remain
frozen in transit. See shipping
instructions for more information.
Turnaround time:
2 business days
Methodology:
Qualitative real time PCR
Normal range:
Nondetected