Measles (Rubeola)

Test codes:

S0047 - Ultrasensitive qualitative detection of measles virus by reverse transcription real time polymerase chain reaction

(A0006 - ELISA detection of antibodies to measles virus in macaques)

Measles (also known as rubeola) is an important viral disease that causes the death of about one million children each year. Measles virus belongs to the genus morbillivirus, which is a member of the paramyoxviridae family. Infection of non-human primates has been well documented in macaques (especially rhesus), baboons, African green, marmosets, tamarins, squirrel monkeys, chimps, and Presbytis cristatus. Measles viral infection seldom occurs in wild monkeys, but most wild-caught monkeys seroconvert within a few months of capture. Shedding of virus can be detected in most secretions and in urine.

Primates infected with this virus can be asymptomatic or rapidly fatal. Marmosets are said to be especially susceptible and symptoms such as maculopapular skin rash, serous to mucopurulent nasal discharge, ocular discharge and diarrhea, and rarely, abortion can develop in less than 10 days. (Koplik's spots may be present sometimes but abortion rarely occurs.) Immunosuppression during measles virus infection has also been documented and death resulting from secondary infections is common.

Many outbreaks in primate colonies have been described (Potkay et al., 1966; Willy et al., 1999; Choi et al., 1999). Although the primary infective source or the mode of infection could not be determined in a number of outbreaks, it was suspected that measles virus might have been transmitted to the monkeys from human visitors while the monkeys were on exhibit.

Although virus isolation can be used to diagnose measles virus infection, a long incubation period is required to obtain results. Furthermore, viral culture is neither sensitive nor specific, and it increases the potential risk of laboratory personnel contacting this virus. Serological detection of measles virus infection is not sensitive. In some cases, measles virus can be detected by PCR in oral fluids well before the onset of IgM antibody (Oliveira et al., 2003). The ability to detect measles virus by real time PCR in a wide variety of sample types such as urine, oral fluid and CSF not only simplifies sample acquisition procedures, but also offers multiple perspectives on the disease's progression.

Utilities:

• Confirm the disease causing agent
• Ensure that colonies are free of Measles virus
• Early prevention of spread of this virus among a colony
• Minimize personnel exposure to this virus
• Safety monitoring of biological products and vaccines that derive from primates

References:
Potkay, S., Ganaway, J.R., Rogers, N.G. and Kinard, R. (1966) An epizootic of measles in a colony of rhesus monkeys (Macacca mulatta). Am J Vet Res 27:331-334.
Willy, M.E., Woodward, R.A., Thornton, V.B., Wolff, A.V., Flynn, B.M., Heath, J.L., Villamarzo, Y.S., Smith, S., Bellini, W.J. and Rota, P,A, (1999) Management of a measles outbreak among Old World nonhuman primates. Lab Anim Sci. 49:42-48.
Choi, Y.K., Simon, M.A., Kim, D.Y., Yoon, B.I., Kwon, S.W., Lee, K.W., Seo, I.B. and Kim, D.Y.(1999) Fatal measles virus infection in Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata). Vet Pathol. 36:594-600.
Oliveira, S.A., Siqueira, M.M., Camacho, L.A., Castro-Silva, R., Bruno, B.F. and Cohen, B.J.(2003) Use of RT-PCR on oral fluid samples to assist the identification of measles cases during an outbreak. Epidemiol Infect. 130:101-106.

Specimen requirement: 1 ml whole blood in EDTA (purple top) or ACD (yellow top) tube, or throat swab or lesion swab, or 1 ml urine, or lesion scab, shipped overnight at room temperature; or 1 ml frozen serum, plasma or CSF, 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