Virology (including Protozoa and Chlamydophila)
This page contains information regarding proper specimen collection, and
test methodology for viral, protozoal, and chlamydial disesases.
Introduction
If a viral/protozoal/chlamydial disease is suspected, it is very important
to collect specimens as soon as possible following onset of clinical
symptoms or death of the animal. If testing for export, subclinical
carriers, pre-sale, pre-breeding examination, clinically normal animals,
etc, contact the laboratory for the best samples to collect.
Tissue specimens should be placed in sterile sealed containers or plastic bags,
(i.e., Whirl-Pak bags) and kept refrigerated. Swab samples (conjunctival, nasal,
oral, fecal, vaginal) can best be collected using a universal transport media
a.
If this media is not available, 2 ml of sterile saline solution in a red top
tube is a good substitute.
Chilled specimens and swabs are preferred. If the time period between
collection and receipt at the Laboratory is longer than 24 hours, add an
extra ice pack or two. Sample selection is very important (see below).
Chlamydophila Preparation of Field Samples
Samples
- Abortion (cattle, sheep, goats) - Portion of placenta/cotoyledon,
fetal lung or liver; preferably in universal transport mediaa
- Nasal, eye, fecal swabs expressed in universal transport mediaa(scrape
well - need cells)
- Cattle - spleen, liver, brain, lung
- Sheep & goats - lung, spleen, synovial fluid, intact joints
Media Storage
Shipping
If specimen is to be in transit more than 24 hours, it should be frozen
and shipped on ice.
Note: Chlamydophila are extremely vulnerable to
physical and chemical environmental factors. Temperature range is critical;
Chlamydophila may be destroyed in less than 5 minutes at 56 C. The
extracellular morphological form may be destroyed in 48 hours at 37 C. Ship all
samples on ice and as quickly as possible.
|
BVD-PI (Persistent
Infection) Ear Notch Testing Program |
|
Number of Cattle Tested |
PCR Pool Size |
PCR Charge per Head |
Ag-ELISA charge per Head |
| <12 samples |
No Pooling |
NA |
$5.00 |
| 12-35 samples |
12 |
$3.95 |
$1.75
* |
| 36-99 samples |
up to
36 |
$2.95 |
$1.75
* |
| 100 or more samples |
up to
36 |
$1.95 |
$1.75
* |
*
BVD Ag-ELISA testing on individual samples within a PCR positive pool
Also see:
Bovine
Viral Diarrhea Virus Persistent Infection (BVD-PI) Ear Notch Testing Program
for Cattle Herds
Virus/Protozoa/Chlamydophila Assays
Fees
|
Porcine |
Antemortem |
Postmortem
|
|
|
Sample |
Test |
|
Sample |
Test |
|
Pseudorabies |
Oropharyngeal swab, Vaginal swab (abortion)
Paired Sera (Red top (serum) tube) |
Virus isolation ,
Serology
|
Fixed tissues (brain, lung, lymphoid, liver, oropharynx)
Tonsil, brain |
Histopathology ,
Virus isolation
|
|
TGE/GI Coronavirus |
Feces |
Electron microscopy |
Fixed tissues ,
Feces/GI contents ,
Fresh intestine |
Histopathology ,
Electron microscopy ,
Antigen detection in fresh tissue by fluorescent antibody technique |
|
Porcine parvovirus (abortion) |
Paired Sera (Red top (serum) tube) |
Serology |
Fresh fetal tissues (lung) ,
Fetal fluid |
Antigen detection in fresh tissue by fluorescent antibody technique ,
b
Serology |
|
Enterovirus |
Feces
Paired Sera (Red top (serum) tube) |
Electron microscopy ,
Serology
b |
Fresh fetal tissues |
Antigen detection in fresh tissue by fluorescent antibody technique
b |
|
Influenza |
Nasal Swab |
Antigen detection in fresh tissue by fluorescent antibody technique
b |
Fresh lung |
Antigen detection in fresh tissue by fluorescent antibody technique
b |
|
Bovine |
Antemortem
|
Postmortem
|
| |
Sample |
Test |
|
Sample |
Test |
IBR
abortion
or
Neontal IBR |
NA |
|
Fixed
tissues (liver, adrenal gland, lung, spleen, lymphoid) ,
Paired maternal sera |
Histopathology ,
Immunohistochemistry (antigen detection in fixed tissue) ,
Serology |
| IBR
respiratory |
Nasal/Ocular Swab, Transtracheal Wash,
Paired sera (Red top tube) |
Virus isolation ,
Serology
|
Trachea, Nasal mucosa |
Histopathology ,
Immunohistochemistry (antigen detection in fixed tissue) |
| BVD
abortion /weak calf |
Blood
(Purple top-EDTA) tube and Red top(serum) tube, Paired sera (Red top
tube) |
Virus
isolation ,
Serology |
Fixed
tissues (lung, lymphoid, kidney, thyroid, brain, liver),
Paired maternal sera
|
Histopathology ,
Immunohistochemistry (antigen detection in fixed tissue) ,
Serology ,
Virus isolation |
| BVD
respiratory/ enteric |
Blood
(Purple top EDTA) tube and Red top (serum) tube
Paired sera(Red top tube) |
Virus
isolation ,
Serology |
Fixed
tissues (lung, GI tract , thyroid, kidney, lymphoid brain) |
Histopathology, Immunohistochemistry (antigen detection in fixed tissue) |
| BVD PI |
1.Red
top (serum) tube
2. Ear notch See BVD-PI Ear Notch Testing Program
3. Purple top (EDTA) tube)
c |
1. Ag
ELISA
2. Ag ELISA/PCR
3. PCR (request 2 tests, 21 days apart) |
Fixed
tissues (lung, GI tract thyroid, kidney, lymphoid brain) |
Histopathology, Immunohistochemistry (antigen detection in fixed tissue) |
| BRSV |
Nasal/Ocular swab, Transtracheal Wash, Bronchial lavage,
Paired Sera (Red top tube) |
RSV antigen detection in fresh tissue or body fluids by ELISA ,
Serology
|
Fresh lung , Bronchial froth ,
Fixed lung
|
RSV antigen detection in fresh tissue or body fluids by ELISA
Histopathology, Immunohistochemistry (antigen detection in fixed tissue)
|
| VSV
d |
Vesicle swab/fluid
Serum (Red top tube) |
Virus
isolation ,
Serology |
Vesicle Swab/fluid |
Virus
isolation |
| BLV |
Serum
(Red top tube) Herd or population analysis available
|
Serology |
Fixed
tissue |
Histopathology |
|
Rotavirus |
Feces
,
GI contents |
Electron microscopy or rota antigen detection by ELISA |
Fixed
GI tissues ,
GI contents/feces |
Histopathology ,
Electron microscopy |
|
Coronavirus |
Feces
, GI contents
|
Electron microscopy |
Fixed
GI tissues ,
GI contents/feces |
Histopathology ,
Electron microscopy
|
Bredavirus
(Torovirus) |
Feces
, GI contents
|
Electron microscopy |
Fixed
GI tissues ,
GI contents/feces |
Histopathology ,
Electron microscopy |
|
Bluetongue Virus (BTV) |
Blood
(Green top - heparin tube ) Purple top (EDTA) tube ,
Serum (Red top tube) |
Virus
isolation ,
Serology ,
PCR |
Fixed
tissues ,
Fresh Spleen |
Histopathology ,
Virus isolation |
|
Neospora caninum |
Serum
(Red top tube) Herd or population analysis available
|
Serology |
Placenta and fetal tissues (brain. heart, liver) ,
maternal ser um
|
Histopathology,
PCR detection in fixed tissue ,
|
|
Ovine/Caprine |
Antemortem |
Postmortem
|
| |
Sample |
Test |
|
Sample |
Test |
|
BD/Pestivirus |
Blood
(Purple top EDTA tube) and Red top (serum)tube
|
Virus
isolation ,
Serology |
Fixed
tissues (complete set) ,
Fresh tissues ,
Paired maternal sera |
Histopathology ,
Virus isolation |
| ORSV |
Nasal/Ocular swab, Transtracheal Wash, Bronchial lavage.
Paired Sera |
RSV antigen detection in fresh tissue or body fluids by ELISA Serology
|
Fresh lung , Bronchial froth ,
Fixed lung
|
RSV antigen detection in fresh tissue or body fluids by ELISA
Histopathology, Immunohistochemistry (antigen detection in fixed tissue)
|
| BTV |
Blood
(Green top (heparin) tube, Purple top (EDTA) tube)
Serum (Red top tube) |
Virus
isolation ,
Serology |
Fresh
tissues (Spleen) ,
Fixed tissues (complete set) |
Virus
isolation ,
Histopathology ,
PCR on fixed tissues |
|
OPPV/CAEV |
Serum
(Red top tube) |
Serology |
Fixed
tissue (lung, joint, udder, brain) |
Histopathology |
|
Rotavirus |
Feces |
Electron microscopy
|
Fixed
GI tissues ,
GI contents/feces |
Histopathology ,
Electron microscopy |
|
Coronavirus |
Feces |
Electron microscopy |
Fixed
GI tissues ,
GI contents/feces |
Histopathology ,
Electron microscopy |
|
Bredavirus |
Feces |
Electron microscopy |
Fixed
GI tissues ,
GI contents/feces |
Histopathology ,
Electron microscopy |
|
Poxvirus (orf) |
Scab
or vesicle fluid |
Electron microscopy |
Fixed
tissues (skin) |
Histopathology |
|
Chlamydophila |
Urogenital fluids |
Chlamydophila antigen detection in fresh tissue or body fluids by ELISA |
Fresh placenta ,
Fixed placenta ,
Fixed fetal tissues
|
Chlamydophila antigen detection in fresh tissue or body fluids by ELISA
,
Immunohistochemistry (antigen detection in fixed tissue) ,
Histopathology |
|
Coxiella |
Serum
(Red top tube) |
Serology
b |
Fixed
Placenta |
Histopathology, Immunohistochemistry (antigen detection in fixed tissue) |
|
Toxoplasmosis |
Serum
(Red top tube) |
Serology |
Placenta and fixed fetal tissues ,
Paired maternal sera (Red top tube) |
Histopathology, Immunohistochemistry (antigen detection in fixed tissue)
,
Serology |
|
Neospora caninum |
Serum
(Red top tube) |
Serology |
Placenta and fetal tissues (brain. heart, liver) ,
M aternal sera |
Histopathology, Immunohistochemistry (antigen detection in fixed tissue)
,
Serology
|
|
Equine |
Antemortem |
Postmortem |
| |
Sample |
Test |
|
Sample |
Test |
| EHV-1
abortion |
Paired
maternal sera (Red top tube) |
Serology |
Fixed
tissues (lung, liver, spleen) |
Histopathology, Immunohistochemistry (antigen detection in fixed tissue) |
| EHV-1
Neurogenic
|
CSF
Paired Sera (Red top tube) |
Virus
isolation, Serology ,
PCR |
Fixed
CNS tissues |
Histopathology, Immunohistochemistry (antigen detection in fixed tissue) |
| EHV,
EHV-4 Respiratory |
Nasal/Ocular swab, Transtracheal Wash,
Paired Sera (Red top tube) |
Virus isolation ,
Serology ,
PCR
|
NA |
|
| EHV-3
coital exanthema |
Urogenital secretions
Paired Sera (Red top tube) |
Virus
isolation ,
Serology |
NA |
|
| EVA |
Semen,
Nasal Swab, Transtracheal wash, Paired Sera (Red top tube), Purple
top (EDTA) tube |
Virus isolation, Serology, PCR - semen
|
Fixed
tissues (complete set) |
Histopathology ,
Virus isolation from fresh tissues (spleen, lymph nodes) |
| EIA |
Serum
(Red top tube) |
Serology |
Fixed
tissues (complete set) |
Histopathology |
|
Rotavirus |
Feces |
Electron microscopy |
Fixed
GI tissues ,
GI contents/feces |
Histopathology ,
Electron microscopy |
|
Coronavirus |
Feces |
Electron microscopy |
Fixed
GI tissues ,
GI contents/feces |
Histopathology ,
Electron microscopy |
|
Influenza |
Paired Sera (Red top tube) Transtracheal Wash
|
Serology ,
Flu antigen detection in fresh tissue or body fluids by ELISA |
NA |
|
|
Canine |
Antemortem |
Postmortem |
| |
Sample |
Test |
|
Sample |
Test |
| CDV |
Conjunctival Swab, Blood (Purple top EDTA tube)
Acute Serum (Red top tube), CSF |
Antigen detection swab or on blood smears by fluorescent antibody
technique,
Serology
|
Fixed
tissues (lung, brain, stomach, bladder, GI, lymphoid) |
Histopathology, Immunohistochemistry (antigen detection in fixed tissue) |
| CPV |
Feces ,
Acute Serum (Red top tube)
|
Virus
isolation, Electron microscopy, CPV antigen detection in fresh tissue or
body fluids by ELISA ,
Serology |
Fixed
GI tissues |
Histopathology, Electron microscopy, Immunohistochemistry
|
| CCV |
Feces
,
Paired sera (Red top tube) |
Electron microscopy ,
Serology |
Fixed
tissues ,
Feces/GI contents |
Histopathology ,
Electron microscopy ,
Immunohistochemistry |
| CHV |
Oropharyngeal swab, vesicle swab
Paired Sera (Red top tube) |
Virus isolation,
Serology
|
Fixed
tissues , (lymphoid, kidney, lung) |
Histopathology ,
Virus isolation from fresh tissues (kidney, liver, lung) |
| CAdV |
Oropharyngeal swab, feces, urine
Paired Sera (Red top tube) |
Virus isolation ,
Serology
|
Fixed
tissues (liver) |
Histopathology ,
Immunohistochemistry |
|
Leptospirosis
d |
Paired
Sera (Red top tube) |
Serology |
Fixed
tissues ( kidney ) |
Histopathology, Immunohistochemistry |
|
Toxoplasmosis |
Paired
Sera (Red top tube) |
Serology |
Fixed
tissues (lung, brain, lymphoid, liver, kidney) |
Histopathology, Immunohistochemistry (antigen detection in fixed tissue) |
|
Feline |
Antemortem |
Postmortem
|
|
|
Sample |
Test |
|
Sample |
Test |
|
FeLV |
Serum (Red top tube), Blood (Purple top EDT A tube), Saliva |
FeLV antigen detection in fresh tissue or body fluids by ELISA |
|
Fixed tissues (bone marrow, lymphoid) |
Histopathology |
|
FIV |
Serum (Red top tube) |
FIV antibody detection in serum by ELISA |
|
NA |
|
|
FIP/FECV |
Feces ,
Paired Sera (Red top tube) |
Electron microscopy ,
Serology |
|
Fixed tissues (kidney, brain, GI, liver, lung) |
Histopathology ,
Immunohistochemistry |
|
FHV |
Oronasal/vesicle swab
Paired Sera (Red top tube) |
Virus isolation,
Serology |
|
Fixed tissues ,
Fresh tissues (lung) |
Histopathology ,
Virus isolation |
|
FCaliciV |
Oropharyngeal vesicle swab ,
Paired Sera (Red top tube) |
Virus isolation,
Serology |
|
Fixed tissues ,
Fresh tissues (lung) |
Histopathology ,
Virus isolation |
|
FPV panleukopenia |
Feces ,
Acute Serum (Red top tube) |
Electron microscopy, Virus isolation ,
Serology |
|
Fixed tissues |
Histopathology ,
Immunohistochemistry |
|
Chlamydophila |
Conjunctival Swab |
Chlamydophila antigen detection in fresh tissue or body fluids by ELISA |
|
NA |
|
|
Toxoplasmosis |
Paired Sera (Red top tube) |
Serology |
|
Fixed tissues |
Histopathology, Immunohistochemistry (antigen detection in fixed tissue) |
a
Universal transport media, Becton, Dickinson, #220221
b
Forwarded to appropriate laboratory for analysis
c
EDTA samples can be pooled at the lab and screened by PCR. Contact the lab for
details.
d
Reportable to State Veterinarian's office WA 360-902-1878 ID 208-334-3256
Last Edited: Oct 30, 2007 4:09 PM