A 60- to 90-minute rapid test for African swine fever virus successfully tested in Uganda.
Release time： 2019-03-18
【Summary Description】
Source: Pig Progress
Author: Treena Hein
A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection tool for African Swine Fever viral DNA, developed by a U.S. company, has been successfully field-tested in Uganda. It may be deployed in other regions around the world in the future, provided that regulations permit it.
A DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection tool for African swine fever virus, developed by a U.S. company, has been successfully field-tested in Uganda. In the future, subject to regulatory approval and under appropriate conditions, it could be deployed in other regions around the world.
The successful results of field studies conducted in Uganda were recently published online in the journal Transboundary and Emerging Diseases by a team including scientists from the National Veterinary Institute in Sweden, Uganda’s National Animal Disease Diagnosis & Epidemiology Center, and Tetracore. The latter is a private company based in Rockville, MD, United States, that develops assays and reagents for detecting infectious diseases, biological markers, and more.
The findings from the field study conducted in Uganda were recently published online in the journal “Transboundary and Emerging Diseases” by a team of scientists from the Swedish National Veterinary Institute, the Uganda National Animal Disease Diagnostic and Epidemiology Centre, and Tetracore—a private company based in Rockville, Maryland, USA, that develops assays, reagents, biomarkers, and other tools for detecting infectious diseases.
Portable ASF test launched in 2016
Portable ASF testing launched in 2016
Tetracore designed the first version of this test in 2000 and field-tested an updated version as a portable platform in 2016, reported Dr. Johnny Callahan, Tetracore’s veterinary diagnostics business development manager. The new version of the test was improved to allow it to recognize the DNA sequence of the 24 known subtypes of the ASF virus.
According to Dr. Johnny Callahan, Tetracore’s Veterinary Diagnostic Business Development Manager, Tetracore designed the first version of the test in 2000 and conducted field tests of an upgraded version as a portable platform in 2016. The new version of the test has been improved to enable detection of DNA sequences from 24 known subtypes of the ASF virus.
He noted, “The published results of our tests in Uganda showed a 96% agreement of test results with the standard reference method, although this was not explicitly stated in the paper. In addition, our average threshold was significantly lower than the reference method, which could indicate improved detection of the Tetracore test in comparison.”
He pointed out: “The trial results we published in Uganda show that 96% of the results were consistent with the standard reference method, although this point was not explicitly stated in the paper. Moreover, our average threshold was significantly lower than that of the reference method, indicating that, by comparison, the Tetracore assay demonstrated improved detection performance.”
While field testing is not permitted at this time in the US and other countries, Dr. Callahan said, “I could see a potential scenario where veterinary authorities in China and South East Asia could utilize field technology to bring ASF virus testing to where it is needed in order to more quickly identify it.”
Although the United States and other countries currently do not permit field testing, Dr. Callahan said, “I can envision a scenario in which veterinary authorities in China and Southeast Asia could leverage field technologies to bring ASF virus testing to the locations where it’s needed, thereby enabling faster identification of the virus.”
Technology is advancing faster than policy.
Technological advancement is outpacing policy.
“There are times,” he noted, “when technology advances faster than policy. ‘We have the technology now, but testing for foreign animal diseases like ASFv is highly controlled and regulated. There’s good reason for that—after all, the consequences of a false result can be catastrophic, whether it’s a false positive or a false negative. That said, our test is currently undergoing additional validation studies in collaboration with multiple partners as we seek a license from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).’”
He pointed out that sometimes technological advancements outpace policy. “We now have this technology, but the detection of foreign animal diseases—such as ASFV—is subject to stringent control and management. There are good reasons for this: whether it’s a false positive or a false negative, an incorrect result could lead to catastrophic consequences. Nevertheless, as we seek USDA approval, we’re currently collaborating with several partners to conduct additional validation studies on this test.”
All of this builds on work conducted in 2004, in which Tetracore scientists, in collaboration with scientists from the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS), demonstrated that Tetracore’s PCR test could achieve preclinical diagnosis of ASF; the test detected viral DNA in pig tonsil scrapings several days before the onset of clinical disease.
All of this followed work conducted in 2004, during which Tetracore scientists collaborated with scientists from the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture to demonstrate that Tetracore’s PCR assay could enable preclinical diagnosis of ASF. The assay detected viral DNA in pig tonsil tissue samples just a few days before clinical disease onset.
In 2007, ARS requested that the same test be employed in Georgia (which borders Russia, Turkey and a few other countries), although it had never been tested outside the lab. It was a success, providing results after 60 to 90 minutes of analysis compared to the several hours required with conventional PCR assays.
In 2007, the ARS requested that the same testing method be adopted in Georgia (which borders Russia, Turkey, and several other countries), even though the test had never been conducted outside a laboratory. This test proved to be highly successful; compared to the several hours required by traditional PCR testing, it takes only 60 to 90 minutes to obtain results.
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