Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)

Test code: S0068 - Ultrasensitive qualitative detection of vesicular stomatitis virus by reverse transcription real time polymerase chain reaction. This assay detects and differentiates the New Jersey and Indiana serotypes of VSV.

Vesicular stomatitis (VS) is a disease of horses, cattle, swine, sheep, goats and deer caused by related viruses in the genus Vesiculovirus of the family Rhabdoviridae. The viral genome is 11 kb and codes for five main proteins: the nucleocapsid (N), phosphoprotein (P), matrix (M), glycoprotein(G), and polymerase (L). Serologically, VS viruses have been classified into two main serotypes: New Jersey (NJ) and Indiana (IN). In addition to the classic VSV-IN (IN1), two additional subtypes, Cocal virus (VSV-IN2) and Alagoas virus (VSV-IN3), have been described.

VS is prevalent in northern South America, throughout Central America, and at one site in the United States: Ossabaw Island, Georgia. However, outbreaks of VS have been reported in the western United States, northern Mexico, and temperate regions of South America. The disease can cause blisters on an animal's mouth, teats or hooves. Clinical outbreaks of VS in livestock can result in significant economic impact on producers and extensive regulatory responses by governmental agencies, including trade restrictions, market closures, and quarantines. Such measures are needed because of the clinical similarities between VS and foot-and-mouth disease and other foreign vesicular diseases in livestock species.

Utilities:

• Confirm the disease causing agent
• Distinguish between VS and other vesicular diseases including foot-and-mouth
• Shorten the time required to confirm a clinical diagnosis of VS infection
• Ensure that animal herds and populations are free of VS
• Early prevention of spread of VS
• Minimize human exposure to the virus

References:
Magnuson, R.J., Triantis, J., Rodriguez, L.L., Perkins, A., Meredith, C.O., Beaty, B., McCluskey, B., and Salman M. (2003) A single-tube multiplex reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction for detection and differentiation of vesicular stomatitis Indiana 1 and New Jersey viruses in insects. J. Vet. Diagn. Invest. 15:561-567.

Specimen requirements: 1 ml whole blood in EDTA (purple top) or ACD (yellow top) tube, or lesion swab, or nasopharyngeal swab, or 0.5 ml nasal wash, or 0.5 ml tissue, shipped overnight at room temperature; or 0.5 ml tissue, shipped frozen.

For specimen types other than those listed here, please call 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 reverse transcription real time PCR

Normal range: Nondetected