Zoologix zoo and wildlife testing

Why use PCR to detect infectious diseases of wildlife and zoo species?

Molecular diagnostic testing using PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) has revolutionized the way veterinarians and researchers maintain animal health and obtain disease data.

The sensitivity, specificity and speed with which pathogens are identified by PCR enable diagnostic, research and monitoring possibilities unavailable using other techniques. Molecular techniques represent a dramatically effective tool for the diagnosis of disease in animal populations.

In PCR testing, nucleic acid -- DNA or RNA -- is isolated from the specimen, then amplified (after an extra reverse transcription step in the case of RNA) using highly specific primers complementary to known target pathogen sequences. References and controls are run simultaneously; internal controls monitor extraction and PCR efficiency. Amplified sequences are visualized and recorded using state-of-the-art protocols and instrumentation.


How is molecular, PCR-based testing complementary to other kinds of testing?

• Cross-reactivity reduces the specificity of many serological tests: a positive result can be caused by organisms other than the target. Molecular assays, on the other hand, are highly specific because they detect genetic sequence unique to the target pathogen. Even closely related pathogen strains can often be distinguished.
• The influence of some sources of false positives is reduced in molecular testing, because while other testing methods detect antibodies to pathogens which may not still be present, molecular assays detect the genetic material of the pathogen itself -- a direct indication of presence of the pathogen in the sample.
• Latent or early infections can often be detected by PCR before disease symptoms are apparent. Detection is not dependent on elevated antibody levels.
• Animals with high titres of some viruses can actually exhibit very low antibody levels as their immune systems are challenged by an infection. This can result in false negative diagnoses if antibody testing alone is used.
• PCR's exquisite sensitivity allows detection of a target pathogen in a sample even if present in very low titres, and even from very small sample volumes.
  

  About Zoologix
  Zoologix serves veterinarians, researchers, zoos and animal care facilities with molecular diagnostic testing for infectious diseases that affect wildlife and domestic species. Other testing facilities perform PCR testing as a sideline. Because we specialize in PCR assays for infectious diseases of animals, our lab staff are adept at performing protocols designed to maintain specimen integrity and maximize assay specificity and sensitivity. We provide fast turnaround and competitive pricing in each of our assay categories.
  
  Zoologix is owned and managed by board-certified scientists and seasoned laboratory managers with extensive experience in molecular biology, biochemistry, zoology, assay design, quality assurance and lab operations. Our objective is to provide to the veterinary, pharmaceutical, research and conservation communities the fastest, highest quality molecular infectious disease testing available.
  
  Our technicians and scientists understand the importance of fast, sensitive, specific test results in maintaining the health of valuable animal populations and obtaining critical experimental data.
  
  Client samples are stored at our lab for six months to facilitate any followup testing.
  
  Contact information
  Zoologix is headquartered in Chatsworth, in southern California. We are located near two major airports (LA International and Burbank), UCLA, USC, CalTech and other regional research centers.
  
  Zoologix Inc.
  9811 Owensmouth Avenue
  Suite 4
  Chatsworth CA 91311-3800
  USA
  
  Phone: 818-717-8880
  Fax: 818-717-8881
  Email: info@zoologix.com
  
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