Companion Animals Diagnostic Testing
Companion Animals
IDC Wallaceville performs diagnostic tests for pets both in-house and by subcontracting certain tests to overseas laboratories. Diagnostic testing can be related to import and export requirements, sick animals and to determine whether an exotic (foreign animal) disease agent is present.
Export Testing Requirements
Dogs and cats travelling out of NZ may require testing for certain diseases before being allowed entry into the overseas country. If this pre-export testing is not done the animals may be denied entry into the overseas country or be detained in quarantine until testing protocols are met. Examples include:
Rabies Testing for Import into The UK
The Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) is the system that allows dogs, cats and ferrets from NZ (and certain other countries) to enter the UK without quarantine as long as they meet the rules. One requirement is to microchip and vaccinate the animal with a rabies vaccine followed by a blood test to determine the level of protective rabies antibodies in the blood.
For a complete description of requirements refer to:
1. Non-Commercial Dogs and Cats to the United Kingdom and Malta and
2. UK PETS Scheme - sending your pet cat or dog to the United Kingdom
MAF Biosecurity New Zealand Exports Group, phone 04 894 0513, or email: animalexports@maf.govt.nz.
For supply of rabies vaccine contact Jenine Connolly, AsureQuality, Hamilton, phone 07 850 2834, email connollyj@asurequality.com.
The cost of the rabies antibody test is $173.88 plus shipping and AQIS fee. The shipping and AQIS fee ($149.24) is divided by the number of samples sent that day. The turn-around time is 2-4 weeks. At least ½ ml of serum is required.
Ehrlichia and Leishmania Testing for entry into Australia
Dogs entering Australia that have not been continuously resident in New Zealand since birth or since importation from Australia, will need to have been tested for Ehrlichia and Leishmania spp prior to export. Dogs that have been continuously resident in New Zealand since birth or since importation from Australia do not require any testing. Both tests are done at IDC, Wallaceville, with a 3-5 day turnaround and a cost of approximately $50.00 for Ehrlichia and $90.00 for Leishmania. At least ½ ml of serum is required.
For further information, please contact:
1. MAF Biosecurity New Zealand Exports Group, phone 04 894 0513, or email: animalexports@maf.govt.nz, or
2. Jenine Connolly, AsureQuality, Hamilton Ph: 07 850 2834, email: connollyj@asurequality.com.
For a complete description of requirements refer to:
1. Dogs and Cats to Australia, and
2. Export of Dogs and Cats to Australia
Here is a list of registered veterinarians approved to export cats and dogs to Australia.
Export of pets to other countries
To determine the requirements of other countries that must be met to allow entry of your pet consult the MAF Biosecurity New Zealand website at: Export Requirements Search or
contact the Exports Group (Animals), MAF Biosecurity New Zealand, PO Box 2526, Wellington, NZ, Phone: +64 4 894 0513, Fax: +64 4 894 0731, email animalexports@maf.govt.nz.
Import of Pets
Dogs and cats coming into NZ from other countries may also require testing for certain diseases. IDC has the capability to run these tests on site or to subcontract them to other NZ or overseas laboratories. If a pet in quarantine in NZ were to fall ill and die, one requirement is to perform a post mortem and test the animal’s brain for rabies infection. The brain is sent to Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Geelong for a rabies test.
Some of the more common pre-import tests include:
| Test | Laboratory | Sample |
|---|---|---|
| Babesia gibsoni immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT) | VetPath Laboratory Services, Perth, Australia | Serum (1/2 ml) |
| Babesia PCR | Acarus laboratory, University of Bristol, UK | Blood in EDTA (1 ml) |
| Heartworm ELISA (antigen test) | IDC Wallaceville | Serum (1/2 ml) |
| Heartworm microfilaria concentration test (Knotts test | Gribbles Veterinary Laboratory, Palmerston North | Blood in EDTA (1 ml) |
| Faecal egg counts (FEC) | Gribbles Veterinary Laboratory, Palmerston North | Faeces |
| Leptospira canicola MAT | IDC Wallaceville | Serum (1/2 ml) |
| Rabies (Lyssavirus) fluorescent antibody test (FAT) or immunohistochemistry (IHC) | Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Geelong, Australia | Fresh and fixed brain |
To determine the import requirements of NZ that must be met to allow entry of your pet contact:
1. the MAF website 
for the appropriate Import Health Standard under the MAF Link Animals - Import Serach, or
2. Import Health Standards Search, or contact the Imports Group, MAF Biosecurity New Zealand, PO Box 2526, Wellington, NZ, Phone: +64 4 894 0459, Fax: +64 4 894 0662, email imports@maf.govt.nz.
Diagnostics
Occasionally samples from sick dogs and cats are sent to IDC Wallaceville to test for suspect exotic or unwanted disease agents, or to perform tests that are not offered by other laboratories in NZ. IDC Wallaceville has the capability to perform isolation of viruses and culture of bacteria, followed by subsequent identification of any isolated pathogens. The virology laboratory can also perform canine distemper virus neutralization test (VNT) that detects antibodies to canine distemper virus in serum. If a required test cannot be performed at IDC Wallaceville then the sample is sent to an overseas laboratory.
Page last updated: 27 September 2010