equine assay data sheet
Equine hepatitis virus
(EqHV)
Test
code: S0233 - Ultrasensitive
qualitative
detection of equine hepatitis virus (EqHV) by reverse transcription real time PCR.
Equine hepatitis virus (EqHV) or equine hepacivirus is a non-primate
hepacivirus (NPHV), phylogenetically related to the human
hepatitis C virus. EqHV is a single-stranded RNA virus
containing an approximate 9.2 kb genome.
Horses have been infected with this virus in the United States, Japan,
New Zealand, and Europe. EqHV can cause subclinical disease in
adult horses with transient mild elevations in liver-derived
serum enzymes. Similar to EqPV-H, EqHV can be found in healthy
carriers with no clinical signs, which may serve as reservoirs
for infection of other horses.
Transmission of EqHV is usually through veterinary products, such as
vaccines, immune sera, or other equine‐derived blood
products. In an attempt to eliminate the risk of equine serum
hepatitis secondary to equine biologic product administration,
the USDA Center for Veterinary Biologics has proposed that all
licensed equine blood products be tested for EqPV-H and EqHV.
Serological detection of the virus is not very sensitive and is mainly
used to identify horses who may have had prior exposure to the
virus. Detection by viral culture is also not very sensitive,
and is slow. Effective detection of active carriers of the virus
relies on the use of molecular detection by polymerase chain
reaction, which is rapid and specific (Tanaka et al., 2014).
Utilities:
-
Help confirm the disease causing agent
-
Shorten the time required to confirm a clinical
diagnosis of the presence of these viruses
-
Help ensure that horse populations are free of these viruses
-
Early prevention of spread of these viruses
-
Minimize human exposure to these viruses
-
Safety monitoring of biological products that derive
from horses
References:
Tanaka, T., Kasai, H., Yamashita, A., Okuyama-Dobashi, K., Yasumoto, J.,
Maekawa, S., Enomoto, N., Okamoto, T., Matsuura, Y., Morimatsu,
M., Manabe, N., Ochiai, K., Yamashita, K. and Moriishi, K.
(2014) Hallmarks of hepatitis C virus in equine hepacivirus. J.
Virol. 88:13352-66.
Specimen requirements: 0.2 ml whole blood in EDTA (purple top) tube; or 0.2 ml serum; or 0.2 ml fresh or frozen
tissue; or 0.2 ml culture.
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
Methodology:
Qualitative
reverse transcription real time PCR
Normal range:
Nondetected
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