rodent and rabbit assay data sheet
Clostridium piliforme - Tyzzer's disease
Test
code:
B0043 - Ultrasensitive qualitative detection of
Clostridium piliforme
(Tyzzer's disease) bacteria by real time PCR
B0043 is included on the
Rabbit Fecal PCR Panel
Infection
with Clostridium piliforme
results in Tyzzer’s disease, which is characterized by necrotic
lesions in the liver, digestive organs and heart. A number of
animal species are susceptible to this organism, including mice,
rats, rabbits, dogs, cats, primates, and horses.
The organism
is an obligate gram-negative bacteria found in necrotic foci in
spore forms. Transmission is mainly through the fecal-oral
route.
Although
Tyzzer’s is a severe disease in many animal species, infected
mice often do not exhibit clinical symptoms. These mice become
carriers of the disease and spread the pathogen to other mice
and other animal species. Interestingly, different mouse strains
differ in their susceptibility to the pathogen (Waggie et al.,
1981).
Clostridium piliforme
cannot be cultivated in artificial media, so diagnosis may be
based on microscopic examination of tissues, serological assays
or steroid challenge tests; these methods all require blood or
necropsy samples. When steroid challenge assays are performed,
extreme care must be taken to avoid spreading the pathogen.
Moreover, microscopic examination, serology and steroid
challenge all suffer from a lack of sensitivity and are labor
intensive.
Detection of
this pathogen by polymerase chain reaction is highly sensitive
and specific. The test can be performed on fecal specimens
rather than blood or tissue, resulting in less trauma and risk
to animals.
Utilities:
-
Help confirm the disease causing agent
-
Shorten the time required to confirm a clinical
diagnosis of Tyzzer's disease.
-
Help ensure that rodent colonies are free of
Clostridium piliforme
-
Early prevention of spread of
C. piliforme
among a colony
-
Minimize personnel exposure to
C. piliforme
-
Safety monitoring of biological products that derive
from rodents
References:
Waggie, K.S., Hansen, C.T. Ganaway, J.R. and Spencer, T.S.
(1981) A study of mouse strains susceptibility to Bacillus
piliformis (Tyzzer's disease): the association of B-cell
function and resistance. Lab. Anim. Sci. 31:139-142
Specimen requirements:
Diarrhea swab, or 1 fecal pellet.
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
real time PCR
Normal range:
Nondetected