For immediate release
Foot-and-mouth disease: rapid on-farm test
is now available
A rapid on-farm (“pen-side”) test for foot-and-mouth
disease virus (FMDV) is now available commercially. Dr Nigel Ferris of the
Institute for Animal Health’s Pirbright Laboratory has been collaborating with
Svanova Biotech AB (Sweden) since 2002 to develop the test, which was launched
in April. The small, hand-held “lateral flow” device involves the same
technology as is used in home pregnancy tests. An extract of a small sample of
tissue taken from an animal suspected of having FMD is spotted onto the bottom
of the device. This then flows up the device. If FMDV is present in the sample,
a line forms within 10 minutes.
The test can easily be used on farms, meaning that a
result can be obtained faster than sending a sample to the laboratory.
Appropriate action can then be taken, based on firm, timely evidence.
The development has been supported by the Department
of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and partners within European Union
LAB-ON-SITE project http://www.labonsite.com/.
“In effect,” said Dr Ferris, “we are taking the
laboratory to the farm, for on-the-spot testing to support clinical
diagnosis.”
ENDS
For more information contact Dr Dave Cavanagh at the
Institute for Animal Health’s press office: mobile 07789 941568 (message can be
recorded); office 01635 577241 (message can be recorded); dave.cavanagh@bbsrc.ac.uk.
Notes for Editors
Examples of results using the lateral flow
device are shown here:
http://www.iah.ac.uk/press_release/FMDV2007/Statement10.htm
Collaborators. Svanova Biotech AB
develops and manufactures diagnostic products, mainly for diagnosing infectious
diseases in livestock and companion animals. More about the pen-side test can be
found at http://www.svanova.com/inside.asp?page=News. The monoclonal antibody that is
an essential part of the test was provided by Dr Emiliana Brocchi of the
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell´Emilia Romagna,
Brescia, Italy.
The Institute for Animal Health is dedicated
to the study of infectious diseases in farm animals. It has two campuses:
Pirbright Laboratory (Pirbright, near Guildford, Surrey) and Compton Laboratory
(Compton, near Newbury, Berkshire). www.iah.ac.uk.
IAH is one of five research institutes sponsored by
the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC;
www.bbsrc.ac.uk).
IAH Pirbright Laboratory provides nine world and
regional laboratories (Reference Laboratories) for major diseases of farm
animals, on behalf of:
World Reference Laboratory of the UN’s Food and
Agriculture Organisation (FAO)
Regional Reference Laboratory of the OIE (World
Organisation for Animal Health
Community Reference Laboratory of the EU
Each reference laboratory specialises in one type of
virus. A reference laboratory maintains a collection of viruses and
related reagents, and provides a diagnostic service.
Bluetongue: OIE, EU
African swine fever: OIE
African horse sickness: OIE, EU
Foot-and-mouth disease: FAO, OIE, EU
Swine vesicular disease: OIE, EU
Lumpy skin disease: OIE
Sheep and goat pox: IE
Peste de petits ruminants: FAO,
OIE
Rinderpest: FAO, EU
Prof. David Cavanagh BSc, PhD, DSc
Head of Corporate Affairs
and Communication
Institute for Animal
Health
Fields of Fire witness accounts of 2001