Current avian influenza (AI) virus surveillance programs involving wild birds rely on sample collection methods that require refrigeration or low temperature freezing to maintain sample integrity for virus isolation and/or reverse-transcriptase (RT) PCR. Maintaining the cold chain is critical for the success of these diagnostic assays but is not always possible under field conditions. The aim of this study was to test the utility of Finders Technology Associates (FTA) cards for reliable detection of AI virus from cloacal and oropharyngeal swabs of wild birds. The minimum detectable titer was determined, and the effect of room temperature storage was evaluated experimentally using multiple egg-propagated stock viruses (n = 6). Using real time RT-PCR, we compared results from paired cloacal swab and samples collected on FTA cards from both experimentally infected mallards (Anasplatyrhynchos) and hunter-harvested waterfowl sampled along the Texas Gulf Coast. Based on the laboratory trials, the average minimal detectable viral titer was determined to be 1 x 10(4.7) median embryo infectious dose (EID50)/ml (range: 1 x 10(4.3) to 1 x 10(5.4) EID50/ml), and viral RNA was consistently detectable on the FTA cards for a minimum of 20 days and up to 30 days for most subtypes at room temperature (23 C) storage. Real-time RT-PCR of samples collected using the FTA cards showed fair to good agreement in live birds when compared with both real-time RT-PCR and virus isolation of swabs. AI virus detection rates in samples from several wild bird species were higher when samples were collected using the FTA cards compared with cloacal swabs. These results suggest that FTA cards can be used as an alternative sample collection method when traditional surveillance methods are not possible, especially in avian populations that have historically received limited testing or situations in which field conditions limit the ability to properly store or ship swab samples.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1637/9862-072611-Reg.1 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
LC-HRMS screening procedure for the detection of 11 different classes of prohibited substances in dried urine spots for doping control purposes.
Anal Bioanal Chem
January 2025
Doping Control Laboratory, Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Ghent University, Block B, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, BE-9000, Ghent, Belgium.
Dried urine spots have recently been proposed as an alternative matrix in the anti-doping field. Drying urine may open the opportunity to limit microbial and thermal degradation of the prohibited substances during transportation to the anti-doping laboratories without the need for refrigeration or freezing. In this study, a multi-targeted initial testing procedure was developed for the determination of 237 prohibited drugs/metabolites from 11 different classes in dried urine spots.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCoinfection with Dolphin Morbillivirus (DMV) and Gammaherpesvirus in a Spinner Dolphin () Stranded in Sri Lanka.
Viruses
October 2024
Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science (BCA), University of Padua, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, PD, Italy.
Following the X-Press Pearl maritime disaster off the coast of Sri Lanka, a stranded spinner dolphin () was recovered, and the cause of death was investigated. Post-mortem examinations revealed evidence of by-catch, but a natural coinfection with dolphin morbillivirus (DMV) and gammaherpesvirus was detected by further analyses, marking the first documented case of a dual viral infection in this species within the region. Molecular diagnostics, including PCR and sequencing, were performed on tissue imprints collected on FTA cards, confirming the presence of DMV in the prescapular lymph node and gammaherpesvirus in the lesions in the oral cavity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDevelopment of a Rapid Diagnostic Method for Sporotrichosis.
Int Arch Allergy Immunol
October 2024
Department of Dermatology, The 2nd Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
Article Synopsis
- Sporotrichosis is a common deep fungal infection that currently lacks fast and accurate diagnostic techniques; this study investigates a new method using FTA cards and nested PCR for diagnosis.
- The study involved 26 patients with skin lesions diagnosed with sporotrichosis, using various control groups for comparison and applying nested PCR and histopathological examinations to assess the results.
- The testing yielded a 30.8% positive rate through PCR in actual patients, while fungal fluorescence staining improved detection sensitivity to 65.4%, indicating the method's potential effectiveness despite its relatively low initial positive rate.
Validation of the performance of a point of care molecular test for leprosy: From a simplified DNA extraction protocol to a portable qPCR.
PLoS Negl Trop Dis
October 2024
Laboratório de Ciências e Tecnologias Aplicadas à Saúde (LaCTAS), Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Curitiba, Brazil.
Article Synopsis
- Scientists tried to improve a test for leprosy using a portable tool that analyzes DNA, which is called qPCR.
- They created an easier method to get DNA from samples, using special liquids that help break down the skin tissue.
- The new method was tested and showed some promise, but it needs more work to get better results, especially for samples with less bacteria.
Forensic efficiency evaluation of a mtDNA whole genome sequencing system constructed with long fragment amplification strategy on DNA nanoball sequencing platform.
Forensic Sci Int Genet
November 2024
Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Forensic Multi‑Omics for Precision Identification, School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; Microbiome Medicine Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China. Electronic address:
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is an important genetic marker for degraded biological sample identification, maternal pedigree tracing, and population genetic structure study owing to its characteristics of high copy number, anti-degradable ring structure, and maternal inheritance. Whole mtDNA genome sequencing is an optimal method for the analysis of mtDNA polymorphism and heterogeneity because it allows for the comprehensive use of maternal genetic information. However, because of lacking quantitative evaluations for sequencing data, the scientific interpretation standards for mtDNA sequencing results of the previously used sequencing systems are often different, and false positive or false negative results are prone to occur when faced with the interference of nuclear genomic DNA, or the heterogeneities of mtDNA sequence and structure.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!