Validation of an influenza virus A 5'Taq nuclease assay for the detection of equine influenza virus A RNA in nasal swab samples.

Objective: Describe the in-house validation of a previously reported influenza virus type A 5'Taq nuclease assay for detecting equine influenza virus A RNA in nasal swab material.

Methods: The validation compares the 5'Taq nuclease assay with a gel-based reverse transcription nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) previously reported by the Irish Equine Centre for detection of H3N8 and H7N7 equine influenza viruses. This test was chosen because it targets a different region of the viral genome to the real-time test, so it is not merely a repeat of the same test in a different format.

Isolation of Mucor circinelloides from a case of ulcerative mycosis of platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus), and a comparison of the response of Mucor circinelloides and Mucor amphibiorum to different culture temperatures.

The fungus Mucor circinelloides was isolated from a platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) suffering from ulcerative mycosis. On horse blood agar at 20, 25 and 30 degrees C, the fungus formed sphaerule-like bodies, a morphology previously associated with Mucor amphibiorum, the species thought to be responsible for the disease in platypus. A biopsy taken from the ulcer was fixed, cut and stained.