14 November 2016

3 minute read

Development of the new real-time PCR kit extends the company’s portfolio of tests for the detection of bovine tuberculosis (bTB). When used in combination with the company’s existing bTB portfolio, consisting of reagents for skin tests and IFNγ release assays (Bovigam), the newest solution provides veterinarians with an effective combination of tests for their bTB screening programs.

Dr. Jean Louis Moyen, Director of the Regional Analysis and Research Laboratory of Dordogne, France, who was among the scientists to present data at the conference, said: “We have tested positive and negative field lymph node samples from cattle, wild boar and badger with the VetMAX M. tuberculosis Complex Real-Time PCR kit in our laboratory as part of the validation study. The test showed excellent diagnostic sensitivity and specificity with 87 out of 88 infected lymph nodes correctly identified and no false positive results in the 284 samples tested. Implementation of the test in the lab was really easy.”

Enhanced Detection

The new PCR test detects all seven strains belonging to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (i.e. M. tuberculosis, M. bovis, M. africanum, M. microti, M. canetti, M. caprae, and M. pinnipedii) and does not detect 42 other tested related pathogens. It includes a ready-to-use master mix and uses the Xeno internal positive control in a single well, duplex PCR approach.

“In the context of increasing TB prevalence, the field needs diagnostic tools that are easy to handle and provide sensitive, reliable and fast results to help ensure the efficacy of surveillance and control programs,” said Martin Guillet, global head and general manager of AgriBusiness at Thermo Fisher. “The results we present at the EAVLD show that this kit meets these expectations and is in line with our mission of enabling our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer.”

The PCR-based kit is designed to reduce costs for the farmer and government-funded programs by delivering results typically in three hours instead of several weeks with bacterial culture, thus limiting the spread of infection while also reducing labor in the lab.

“The eradication of bTB is complex and the flexible application of testing schemes will help avoid unnecessary culling and lengthy farm closures, as well as help eliminate the occurrence of bovine TB worldwide,” Guillet said. “We feel this can shorten the overall length of a TB program in a country.”
The VetMAX M. tuberculosis Complex PCR kit is currently in development with registrations pending.

About bTB

bTB is a major infectious disease among cattle, other farm animals, and certain wildlife populations (badgers, possums, wild boars). It results from infection with mycobacteria belonging to the M. tuberculosis complex (M. tuberculosis, M. bovis, M. africanum, M. microti, M. canetti, M. caprae, and M. pinnipedii) and can be transmitted either by the respiration or by ingestion. bTB is a chronic disease and usually it takes many months for clinical signs to develop. Therefore, early infections are often asymptomatic, whereas in the later stages, symptoms include progressive emaciation, weakness, inappetence, and enlargement of lymph nodes. bTB is a significant zoonosis that can spread to humans through aerosols and by drinking unpasteurized milk or dairy products from infected cows. bTB, therefore, is classified as a notifiable disease by the OIE and in many countries.

For more information about the Applied Biosystems line of diagnostics products, please visit www.thermofisher.com/animalhealth.

TheCattleSite News Desk