Christina Boss
Sr. Product Manager Dairy Solutions, Thermo Fisher Scientific
How has Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis (MAP) been monitored in Saxony, Germany?
In 2005, a MAP control program was implemented in Saxony, Germany that included serology testing of the whole herd, including specification of hygiene measures. In 2010, the program was extended with fecal cultures for the entire herd. Seventy-one dairy operations participated in the testing program, including 23,000 cows. In 2013, the team of the Saxony Health and Veterinary Research Institute tested more than 14,000 samples, and in 2014, more than 17,000 samples were tested. This huge volume of testing required a significant amount of time and space in their laboratory. Thus, the team considered alternative testing methods.
How did real-time PCR perform in field testing?
The Saxony team conducted a field study to determine if commercially available VetMAX™ MAP Real-Time PCR Screening Kit from Thermo Fisher Scientific was a viable option for their program. They implemented the entire Thermo Fisher MAP workflow with sample preparation reagents and automated DNA extraction, including sample preparation with the MagVet™ Mycobacterium Paratuberculosis Isolation Kit on the KingFisher™ 96.
The DNA extraction is a crucial step in MAP detection because the bacterium can be difficult to lyse. The use of products from one workflow that have been validated together is an important advantage for obtaining meaningful and reliable MAP results.
The team’s conclusion was that the Thermo Fisher Scientific VetMAX MAP Real-Time PCR Screening Kit and workflow give equivalent results to the fecal culture method and is well-suited for use in the Saxony control program. In addition, the automated DNA-isolation provides a high throughput detection system for their large volume testing. See below the summary of the team’s evaluation results.
To view the presentation of Dr. Andrea Konrath, Health and Veterinary Research Institute of Saxony, given at the Bacteriology AVID-Tagung in September 2015, click here.
To learn more about the Thermo Fisher Scientific robust portfolio of MAP diagnostic tests, including the VetMAX MAP Real-Time PCR Screening Kit, click here.
