Production Animals/Equine diagnostic testing

Many of the animal diseases are not only of concern for animal health but are also important because they are infectious to humans (zoonosis). Others, such as foot-and-mouth disease, would be of major economic impact, if they ever came into the country. To maintain and develop testing capability for a range of animal diseases is of importance to the AHL.

A wide range of test methods are available at the AHL for the detection of infectious diseases in production animals and equines. Each of the three AHL laboratory teams: Virology, Immunology and Bacteriology and Aquatic Animal Diseases, offers a range of assays and expertise.

The main purposes of testing for production animal and equine diseases are:

• Testing for suspected exotic disease incursions into New Zealand;
• Import and export of live animals, semen or germplasm
• Surveillance for proof of freedom from specific diseases;
• Diagnosis of sick animals, especially by test methods not available at commercial animal health laboratories;
• Projects

Test Methods available at the AHL:

The test methods for the detection of infectious diseases as they are performed at the AHL follow the procedures outlined in the OIE Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals and the procedures covered in the Australian and New Zealand Standard Diagnostic Procedures . For a list of test methods available at the AHL please follow the link to the AHL Price List (79 KB). Be aware that more test methods than listed are available at the AHL. Please approach the key contacts if you need more information on test methods.

The test methods can be grouped into two major categories:

1. Methods for the identification of the disease-causing agent (prions, viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi, etc);

Methods that detect antibodies against the disease agent (serological methods).

• The wide range of serological assays available at AHL can be found in the AHL price list (79 KB).

Regarding the ability to identify an animal as carrying the disease, the diagnostic sensitivity and diagnostic specificity are key factors and are frequently requested by clients. For information on these and other test method details, please approach our key contacts.

Quality management of test methods is an important component of any test method used at the AHL. All test methods are performed according to international quality standards . Most of the AHL test methods are externally accredited towards these standards. Interlaboratory proficiency testing is an integral part of quality assurance at the AHL.

The future of testing:

New test methods are constantly introduced at the AHL as the need arises and as they become available. Especially the number of molecular techniques, such as PCR, is rapidly expanding. Generally, it is necessary to evaluate new methods for their suitability in the New Zealand target population. These evaluations are generally performed as technical projects.

The AHL is more and more preparing for testing of large numbers of animals by using test method automation technologies. Such technologies have been employed in the equine influenza outbreak in Australia in 2007 and have proved very useful. Automation is especially appropriate for PCR testing and antibody detection by ELISA.

Nevertheless, more traditional test methods will still be offered by the AHL as long as international trade requires testing of production animals and equines by these methods.

Page last updated: 2 July 2010