Sound Diagnostics

SOUND DIAGNOSTICS, INC. offers serologic screening for detection of antibodies to the following infectious diseases of rabbits.

Specimen Procedures

About 0.25ml of serum is needed to perform the tests, thus obtain about 0.5ml of blood.

In a microtainer serum separator tube, centrifuge the specimen until the cells are below the gel before sending. Serum may be sent in the same tube or in a different plastic vial.

Label sample tubes clearly. If paired sera are submitted, preferably collected 3-4 weeks apart, identify by dates of collection and use a separate request sheet for each sample.

If serum is to be sent within 24 hours, refrigerate; if it is to be sent at a later date, remove and freeze.

Enclose a completed request form with each sample. Mail samples in a small box or padded envelope.

Ambient temperature is acceptable for shipment. Overnight mail is unnecessary.

If you are a client of Phoenix Laboratory, you may call them at 800-347-0043 to arrange for pickup of specimens for delivery to SOUND DIAGNOSTICS, INC. at no charge. If you are not a client of Phoenix Laboratory but are within their service area (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska), call to ask if they can pick up at your location. Put specimens in a zip-lock bag with SOUND DIAGNOSTICS, INC. visible through the bag.

Results will be faxed as soon as they are ready, and a copy will also be mailed. Phone or e-mail transmittal may be requested.

SOUND DIAGNOSTICS, INC. offers serologic screening for detection of antibodies to the following infections of rodents.

Tests are done by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). When indicated, results are confirmed by indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFA). Individual tests are available for $9.00 each. Serology panels customized to your needs can be arranged. Serologic tests for other infectious agents can be arranged on request. MPV and RPV involve separate assays for the nonstructural protein (NP) and the virion protein (VP) of the virus.

The serologic panels are based on the prevalence in institutions reported by Jacoby, R.O. and Lindsey, J.R. Risks of infection among laboratory rats and mice at major biomedical research institutions. ILAR Journal 39:266-271, 1998. A - prevalence > 20%; B - prevalence > 10%; C - prevalence > 1%. Rodents originating from institutional colonies outside North America should also be tested for Hantaan virus.

Specimen Procedures

Samples should be collected in a microtainer serum separator tube (available from Becton Dickinson). Centrifuge the specimen, with cells below the gel, before sending. Alternatively, put serum in a different sterile, leakproof, unbreakable vial.

A minimum of 50 microliters of serum is needed. Send sera undiluted.

Label sample tubes clearly.

Refrigerate sera until sent; if not sent within 24 hours, freeze.

Enclose a completed request form with the samples. Mail samples in a small box or padded envelope.

Ambient temperature is acceptable for shipment. Overnight mail is unnecessary.

If you are a client of Phoenix Laboratory, you may call them at 800-347-0043 to arrange for pickup of specimens for delivery to SOUND DIAGNOSTICS, INC. at no charge. If you are not a client of Phoenix Laboratory but are within their service area (Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska), call to ask if they can pick up at your location. Put specimens in a zip-lock bag with SOUND DIAGNOSTICS, INC. visible through the bag.

Specimens from rodent inoculated with human cells or any infectious agents cannot be accepted because of the hazard to human health.

Results will be mailed. Fax, phone or e-mail transmittal is available upon request.

Rodent Serology Screening Price

Mnemonics

• CARB: Cilia-Associated Respiratory Bacillus
• Mycoplasma: Mycoplasma pulmonis
• ECTR: Ectromelia Virus
• PVM: Pneumonia Virus of Mice
• H-1: Toolan's H-1 Virus
• RCV: Rat Coronavirus (SDAV)
• KRV: Kilham’s Rat Virus
• REO: Reovirus 3
• LCMV: Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus
• Rota: Rotavirus (EDIM)
• MAV: Mouse Adenovirus
• RPV: Rat Parvovirus
• MHV: Mouse Hepatitis Virus
• Sendai: Sendai Virus
• MMV: Mouse Minute Virus (MVM)
• TMEV: Theiler’s Murine Encephalomyelitis Virus (GDVII)
• MPV: Mouse Parvovirus

SOUND DIAGNOSTICS, INC. offers serologic screening for detection of antibodies to the following infectious diseases of rabbits.

SOUND DIAGNOSTICS, INC. offers screening for detection of parasites in mice and rats.

Species Group Agents Method Price

Mice, rats Ectoparasites Myobia, Myocoptes, Radfordia Pelage Tape Test $8.50

Mice, rats Endoparasites Syphacia sp. Anal Tape Test $8.50

Mice Endoparasites Aspiculuris Fecal Flotation $15.00

As reported by Jacoby, R.O. and Lindsey, J.R. Risks of infection among laboratory rats and mice at major biomedical research institutions. ILAR Journal 39:266-271, 1998, internal parasites, specifically pinworms (Aspiculuris, Syphacia), occurred in about one-third of institutional SPF mouse colonies and external parasites, specifically mites, occurred in about 15 percent of institutional colonies. The prevalence was doubled in non-SPF colonies. In institutional SPF rat colonies, about one-third had pinworms (Syphacia) and about five percent had mites. As with mice, the prevalence was doubled in non-SPF rat colonies.

Specimen Procedures

Pelage tape test. Press clear cellophane tape against the pelt of the rodent, dorsally and ventrally, from the nose to the base of the tail. Affix tape to a clear microscope slide and label with identification.

Anal tape test. Press clear cellophane tape against the perianal area of the rodent. Affix tape to a clear microscope slide and label with identification.

Fecal flotation. Obtain a fresh fecal pellet and put in an unbreakable vial. Vials from Scimart (800-434-8850) are recommended (tube number T341-6TPR and cap number T340N0SL). Label with identification.

If you are a client of Phoenix Laboratory, you may call them at 800-347-0043 to arrange for pickup of specimens for delivery to SOUND DIAGNOSTICS, INC. at no charge. If you are not a client of Phoenix Laboratory but are within their service area (Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska), call to ask if they can pick up at your location. Put specimens in a zip-lock bag with SOUND DIAGNOSTICS, INC. visible through the bag.

Specimens from rodents inoculated with human cells or any infectious agents cannot be accepted because of the hazard to human health.

Results will be mailed. Fax, phone or e-mail transmittal is available upon request

Sound Diagnostics uses ELISAs to measure antibodies to the organisms which cause various infections in rabbits and rodents. ELISAs are performed as illustrated:

ELISAs are relatively easy and inexpensive to perform. The amount of antibody is quantitated by optical density (O.D.) and compared to positive and negative controls.

Ranges of negatives and positives for each of the assays have been established from control sera. There are no "normal ranges" as with serum chemistry values. Uninfected animals will have a negative titer.

Negative results indicate a lack of antibodies to the antigen at that point in time. In the early stage of infection, the amount of antibodies may be below the level of detection. False negative results may occur when immunocompromised animals produce inadequate amounts of antibodies.

Equivocal (suspicious) results are usually clarified by a follow-up sample. For infections in the early stage, antibody levels will be considerably higher in the follow-up sample. If the antibodies are due to non-specific reactivity or past infection, values will remain about the same.

Positive results indicate infection, but not necessarily disease. However, high levels of antibodies may be associated with disease. Antibody levels may decrease with time if the infection has been eliminated, but months are usually required.

Using these guidelines, ELISAs are useful in determining infection and possible association with disease.

The infections included in our rodent serology panels are described below. Diagnosis of these infections is facilitated by serology. Since serology measures immunoglobulins, that take time and an intact immune system to develop, it may be negative at the time of clinical disease, and in immature, immunodeficient and immunocompromised rodents. The occurrence of the agents is based on the published references and may not be indicative of all populations of mice and rats.

Encephalitozoonosis

Encephalitozoonosis, caused by Encephalitozoon cuniculi, a microsporidian intracellular protozoan, is common in rabbits. Infection is persistent, but may be latent, never causing signs of illness. However, it may cause transient neurologic signs or severe signs of meningoencephalitis, nephritis or intraocular inflammation. Many rabbits acquire infection from their dams or other rabbits in the rabbitry. Transmission is by excretion of spores in the urine during acute infection with ingestion by susceptible rabbits. The organisms spread to various organs and as antibodies develop, they become encapsulated, limiting tissue damage and spore excretion. A healthy immune system prevents the organisms from multiplying but the spores remain viable. Immunosuppression may result in overt disease many years after the initial infection. Currently, there are no definitive clinical means of diagnosing encephalitozoonosis. However, since the infection is persistent, antibodies continue to be produced.

Pasteurellosis

Pasteurellosis, caused by the bacterium Pasteurella multocida, is common in rabbits. The most frequent manifestation of disease is upper respiratory tract disease involving the conjunctiva, nasolacrimal ducts, nares, nasal sinuses and nasopharynx. Clinical signs include sneezing, matted forepaws, nasal discharge and upper respiratory rales. The best way of detecting the organism in accessible sites is by culture. A swab (type IV Calgiswab) of the nares, along the nasal septum, should be streaked onto a blood agar plate for isolation of the organism. Some strains of P. multocida require incubation for 48 hours at 37 C or in 5% CO2 for primary isolation. Infections of the lower respiratory tract, middle ears or reproductive tract are usually inaccessible for culture. For these infections, serologic testing is a useful diagnostic tool, as infection results in production of antibodies.

Syphilis

Syphilis in rabbits is caused by Treponema cuniculi, a spirochete bacterium. Infection results in ulcers and crusty exudates at mucocutaneous junctions of the vulva, prepuce, anus, nose, lips and eyelids. Lesions may resolve and the infection can become subclinical. The agent is transmitted venereally or by contact, and may be passed to young rabbits by the dam. T. cuniculi is endemic in many rabbitries. It is not transmissible to humans. T. cuniculi can be eliminated from rabbitries and individual rabbits with treatment. In clinical cases, an etiologic diagnosis can be made by dark field microscopy of exudate from lesions. Serologic detection of antibodies indicates infection with T. cuniculi.

Tyzzer's Disease

Tyzzer's disease, caused by Clostridium piliforme, may exist as a subclinical infection or result in severe enteritis. Weanling rabbits are mainly affected with diarrhea and high mortality. If the bacteria gain access to the bloodstream, the liver and heart are also affected. Since bacteria are passed in the feces, the organisms may spread easily in rabbitries, and become endemic. The incidence of disease in infected pet rabbits is unknown. Control of infection depends on reduction of stress and good sanitation.Testing for antibodies to C. piliforme reveals whether adult rabbits have been infected and may develop secondary disease or be carriers.