primate assay data sheet
Rhesus rhadinovirus (RRV)
Test code:
S0023 -
Qualitative
detection of rhesus rhadinovirus (RRV) by polymerase chain
reaction
Herpesvirus
infection persists for the life of the host. If the host is in
an immunocompromised state, reactivation of gammaherpesviruses,
one of the three subtypes of herpesviruses, can lead to severe
disease, including neoplasia. The most recently identified human
gammaherpesvirus is the rhadinovirus Kaposi's sarcoma-associated
herpesvirus (KSHV), the etiologic agent of Kaposi's sarcoma, a
human vascular tumor especially frequent in AIDS patients. KSHV
is also implicated in two lymphoproliferative diseases, primary
effusion lymphoma and multicentric Castleman's disease.
Rhesus
monkey rhadinovirus (RRV) is closely related to KSHV. The
sequences, as well as gene content and overall organization, are
well conserved between the two viruses. Furthermore, RRV can
lead to the development of a multicentric lymphoproliferative
disorder resembling multicentric Castleman's disease in macaques
coinfected with simian immunodeficiency virus. In contrast to
KSHV, however, RRV grows lytically to high titers following de
novo infection of immortalized rhesus fibroblasts.
Natural
exposure to RRV is apparently nearly universal at primate
centers in the US, as determined by greater than 90%
seropositivity in healthy rhesus monkeys at the New England
National Primate Research Center and at the Oregon National
Primate Research Center. Thus potential occupational exposure to
this virus could be a major concern.
Although
virus isolation can be used to diagnose RRV infection, a long
incubation period is required to obtain results. Serological
detection of RRV infection is neither sensitive nor specific. It
also increases the potential risk of laboratorians from
contacting this virus. RRV detection by PCR is the most rapid,
sensitive and specific method for the diagnosis of this
infection.
Utilities:
-
Help confirm the disease causing agent
-
Help ensure that animal colonies are free of RRV
-
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
Specimen requirement: 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
Methodologies:
Qualitative PCR
Normal range:
Nondetected