Pasteurella multocida PCR test for dogs and cats
dog and cat assay data sheet
Pasteurella multocida
NOTE: THIS TEST IS NOT PERFORMED ON
SAMPLES TAKEN FROM BOVINES OWNED OR LOCATED IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
Test code:
B0045 -
Ultrasensitive qualitative detection of
Pasteurella multocida by
real time PCR
Pasteurella
bacteria are small, nonmotile, gram-negative, bi-polar-staining
bacilli that can be easily identified in many dog and cat bite wounds.
These organisms normally inhabit the nasal, gingival, and tonsillar
regions of many dogs and most cats, as well as those of many other
animals.
Pasteurella
secretes an endotoxin that changes the properties of pulmonary
surfactant, thereby altering pulmonary mechanics and gas exchange.
Once pneumonia develops, it may be slow to resolve and abscesses or
pleuritis may develop.
Pasteurella
multocida
is the most common respiratory pathogen in the domestic rabbit.
Infection with the bacteria can result in rhinitis, conjunctivitis,
pneumonia, abscesses, genital tract infections, and septicemia. The
bacteria can be transmitted via aerosol or contact, either directly or
through fomites, with an infected rabbit.
P. multocida initially
colonizes the pharynx and then moves to the nasal cavity and
surrounding tissue, with possible spread to the rest of the body.
Colonization of the nasal cavity may take two weeks to occur, after
which time clinical signs may or may not appear. Once rabbits are
infected, they become carriers without exhibiting clinical signs.
Traditionally,
diagnosis of Pasteurella
was based on clinical findings, culture and/ or serological testing.
Although culture identification methods are definitive, they are time
consuming and costly. False negative culture results are frequently
observed due to the fact that P.
multocida dies easily during transport to the laboratory
or is overgrown by other bacteria (nasal flora or contaminants) in the
culture. Serology has been used when infection is suspected in organs
for which cultures are not attainable, or when culturing has yielded
no results. However, a serology positive to
P. multocida can indicate
either current infection or previous exposure to the organism. Because
many animals have been exposed to this organism, a current diagnosis
of pasteurellosis cannot be based on serologic results alone.
Molecular detection by PCR offers a more sensitive, specific and
timely method for detecting
Pasteurella and confirming infection (Miflin and Blackall,
2001).
Utilities:
-
Help confirm the disease causing agent
-
Shorten the time required to confirm a clinical
diagnosis of Pasteurella
-
Help ensure that animal facilities are free of
Pasteurella
-
Early prevention of spread of
Pasteurella among a
facility
-
Minimize personnel exposure to
Pasteurella
-
Safety monitoring of biological products that derive
from susceptible animals
References:
Miflin, J. K. and Blackall, P. J. (2001) Development of a 23 S rRNA-based
PCR assay for the identification of Pasteurella multocida. Lett. Appl.
Microbiol. 33: 216–221.
Specimen
requirements:
Nasopharyngeal swab, or 0.2 ml whole blood in EDTA (purple top) tube.
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
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