Shigella and E coli PCR tests for rodents

B0008 - Qualitative detection of Shigella and enteroinvasive E. coli bacteria, by polymerase chain reaction. Assay detects but does not differentiate S. boydii, S. dysenteriae, S. flexneri, S. sonnei, and enteroinvasive E. coli strains including EIEC 41, EIEC 42, EIEC 120 and EIEC 121.

B0054 - Ultrasensitive qualitative detection of Shigella bacteria only, by real time polymerase chain reaction. This assay detects but does not differentiate most Shigella strains; it does not detect E. coli.

B0055 - Quantitative assay for Shigella bacteria by real time polymerase chain reaction. This assay detects and quantifies Shigella DNA present in a sample as a percentage of the total DNA present in the sample. The assay does not differentiate Shigella strains and does not detect E. coli.

Shigella bacteria are gram negative, non-spore forming bacilli. S. flexneri (types 2, 4, 6), S. sonnei, and S. dysenteriae are the most common organisms causing problems in primates. Humans are considered their main reservoir.

Shigella-induced dysentery is often mistaken as EIEC (enteroinvasive E. coli). Five recognized classes of enterovirulent E. coli (collectively referred to as the EEC group) cause gastroenteritis in humans. Although E. coli is considered part of the normal intestinal flora of humans and other primates, a minority of E. coli strains are capable of causing illness in human and primates by several different mechanisms. Among these are the enteroinvasive (EIEC) strains.

Both Shigella and EIEC are transmitted through the fecal-oral route, through contaminated food or water or by direct contact, aerosol, or mechanical vectors such as flies. The organisms are shed from both clinically ill and asymptomatic humans and primates. Even minimal contact is adequate for transmission.

Infection of primates by these bacteria usually results in a subclinical carrier state, but disease may then be induced by stress. Signs include watery to bloody diarrhea, weakness, and edema of the face and neck. Rectal prolapse is common. High mortality can result from Shigellosis in primates. Recovered animals are often carriers and can act as a reservoir of infection.

Fecal or blood culture with selective media is sometimes used to identify Shigella and enteroinvasive E. coli. However, microbiological culture is slow and not very sensitive. Molecular detection of these bacteria is highly sensitive and specific, and is also highly tolerant of suboptimal specimen shipping and handling conditions that would invalidate other testing methods.

Utilities:

Confirm the disease causing agent
Shorten the time required to confirm a clinical diagnosis of Shigella or EIEC infection.
Ensure that rodent colonies are free of these bacteria
Early prevention of spread of these bacteria among a colony
Minimize personnel exposure to these bacteria
Safety monitoring of biological products that derive from rodents

Specimen requirements: 1 fecal pellet, rectal swab, or 1 ml bacterial culture. Less preferred specimen: 0.1 ml whole blood in EDTA (purple top) or ACD (yellow top) tube. Ship fresh specimens overnight at room temperature.

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

Methodologies:
B0008 - Qualitative PCR
B0054 - Qualitative real time PCR
B0055 - Quantitative real time PCR

Normal range: Nondetected