Sendai PCR test

Sendai virus (SEND) is an RNA paramyxovirus of the parainfluenza type 1 group. Mice infected with this virus develop labored breathing and decreased fecundity. In DBA/2 and immune deficient mice, the infection is almost always fatal. This virus immunosuppresses affected mice and predisposes them to secondary bacterial infections.

Generally, no clinical signs are observed in mice in endemically infected colonies. Thus many mice may be carriers of the virus. In clinically apparent infections, signs are variable but may include chattering, mild respiratory distress to labored breathing, and decreased fecundity in adults. Deaths (possibly whole litters) in neonates and suckling mice can occur due to the weak immune defense at this age. In young adult mice, poor growth is common.

Direct contact is the primary means of viral spread. The virus is not environmentally stable, but can be transmitted by fomites because of the quantities of virus excreted from infected mice.

Serology testing for these viruses has been used extensively to test for the immune status of mice. However, this testing approach is often inadequate to control the spread of the virus, largely because it takes a long time to generate a detectable serological response when the mice are exposed to this virus. Secondly, the sensitivity of serological testing is often not comparable to molecular detection by PCR. Thirdly, serological testing cannot be applied to immunosuppressed mice, such as nude mice. Fourthly, swabs can be conveniently used by PCR to detect the presence of Sendai virus.

Utilities:

Confirm the disease causing agent
Shorten the time required to confirm a clinical diagnosis of Sendai virus
Ensure that vivariums are free of Sendai virus
Early prevention of spread of Sendai virus among a vivarium
Minimize personnel exposure to this virus
Safety monitoring of biological products that derive from mice

Specimen requirements: Nasopharyngeal swab or tracheal or lung tissue, shipped overnight at room temperature, or 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: Ultrasensitive qualitative reverse transcription real time polymerase chain reaction

Normal range: Nondetected