Enzootic bovine leukosis (cattle)

Description

Enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL) is caused by the retrovirus, bovine leukaemia virus (BLV), which is transmitted horizontally through contact with body fluids containing infected cells, principally blood and milk. Transmission from dam to calf via ingestion of infected milk is the principal route of infection although it has also been associated with natural breeding and veterinary procedures such as rectal palpation, contaminated needles and de-horning equipment. Congenital transmission also occurs but is less important. Like other retroviral infections, once established, is lifelong and characterised by the development of circulating antibody, which is also present throughout life. Affected animals usually develop antibody within 2-3 months of infection. The virus has been eliminated from dairy herds in Australia, but beef cattle may remain infected at a very low prevalence.

Less than 3% of infected animals develop malignant disease. The peak incidence of disease is in mature cattle, 6 - 8 years old. Some infected animals have a fluctuating lymphocytosis of moderate degree. The most common presentation is an enlarged lymph node due to lymphoma. Any nodes may be affected, e.g. retrobulbar (causing eye protrusion), or pharyngeal (causing stertorous respiration). Lymphoma can involve almost any organ.

Confirmation of lymphoma alone does not confirm EBL, since cattle may also be affected by sporadic forms of lymphoma, not associated with bovine leukaemia virus. Three sporadic forms of lymphoma are described: The calf type (usually develops in the first six months of life), the thymic type (in yearlings) and the skin type (most often in two year old cattle).

Diagnosis and tests available

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is usually based on confirmation of both lymphoma and bovine leukaemia virus infection.

Tests available

Click on + in the tables below for sampling requirements and additional test information

Code	Name	Samples required	Species	Turnaround time	Price (excl. GST)	Notes	Test days
EBL_ABEL	Enzootic Bovine Leucosis (EBL) Virus Antibody ELISA (milk or serum)	Clotted blood (Red top) 10 ml of blood (including at least 2 ml of serum) collected in a plain red top tube Submit chilled Milk Preserved milk Submit chilled	Bovine	Up to 7D	$25.70	D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays.	According to demand
HIST_HE1	Histopathology – Preparation & Examination	Fixed Tissues- General Fresh tissues immediately placed in formalin Tissue pieces should not be greater than 1cm cubed to ensure proper fixation Submit fixed in neutral buffered formalin at a 10:1 ratio of formalin: tissue Fixed Tissues- Nervous tissues Submission of whole brain is required to ensure preservation of TSE target sites submit fixed in neutral buffered formalin at a ratio of 10:1 formalin: tissue Brains submitted for Nervous tissues are processed once a week, separate to general tissues to ensure consistent and reliable results. Urgent cases can be processed out of cycle if clearly marked on the Submission Form however this may reduce the quality of the brain histology results, so should only be requested in extremely urgent cases. Fresh Tissues Fresh tissues can be submitted following necropsy The quality of the tissues will be reduced due to the effects of autolysis so ideally fixed tissue should be submitted in neutral buffered formalin at a ratio of 10:1 formalin: tissue	All species	Up to 10D	$84.95	D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays.	Monday - Friday
EBL_RTPCR	Enzootic Bovine Leucosis Virus PCR*	Faeces, fresh tissue, swab (PBGS)	Bovine	2-3D	$109.35	* Denotes analyses not covered by the NATA scope of accreditation. D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays.

Code

Name

Samples required

Species

Turnaround time

Price (excl. GST)

Notes

Test days

EBL_ABEL

Enzootic Bovine Leucosis (EBL) Virus Antibody ELISA (milk or serum)

Clotted blood (Red top)

10 ml of blood (including at least 2 ml of serum) collected in a plain red top tube
- Submit chilled

Milk

Preserved milk
- Submit chilled

Bovine

Up to 7D

$25.70

D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays.

According to demand

HIST_HE1

Histopathology – Preparation & Examination

Fixed Tissues- General

Fresh tissues immediately placed in formalin
Tissue pieces should not be greater than 1cm cubed to ensure proper fixation
- Submit fixed in neutral buffered formalin at a 10:1 ratio of formalin: tissue

Fixed Tissues- Nervous tissues

Submission of whole brain is required to ensure preservation of TSE target sites
- submit fixed in neutral buffered formalin at a ratio of 10:1 formalin: tissue
Brains submitted for Nervous tissues are processed once a week, separate to general tissues to ensure consistent and reliable results. Urgent cases can be processed out of cycle if clearly marked on the Submission Form however this may reduce the quality of the brain histology results, so should only be requested in extremely urgent cases.

Fresh Tissues

Fresh tissues can be submitted following necropsy
The quality of the tissues will be reduced due to the effects of autolysis so ideally fixed tissue should be submitted in neutral buffered formalin at a ratio of 10:1 formalin: tissue

All species

Up to 10D

$84.95

D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays.

Monday - Friday

EBL_RTPCR

Enzootic Bovine Leucosis Virus PCR*

Faeces, fresh tissue, swab (PBGS)

Bovine

2-3D

$109.35

* Denotes analyses not covered by the NATA scope of accreditation.

D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays.

Additional Specimen Requirements:

Histopathology

Fixed tissue
Lymph nodes, spleen, thymus, intestine and other organs showing gross lesions Submit fixed in neutral buffered formalin at a 10:1 ratio of formalin: tissue

Additional Information

Customer Service

Contact Customer Service for enquiries relating to testing and results, quotations and pricing, couriers, sample submission and invoicing.

NSW DPIRD's laboratories are committed to continual improvement of services. If you would like to provide feedback, please fill in and submit the online feedback form.

CONTACT DETAILS
Phone	1800 675 623
Email	laboratory.services@dpird.nsw.gov.au
Operating Hours	8:30am-4:30pm Monday-Friday (excluding public holidays) 8:30am-12:00pm Saturday (for deliveries only)
Postal Address	Private Bag 4008, Narellan NSW 2567

Quotations

For Animal export, Plant health or Veterinary quotations, please complete the online quotation request

Submission Forms

Veterinary Specimen Advice Form

Please Note: These documents are not fully web accessible, please contact Customer Service (laboratory.services@dpird.nsw.gov.au) for more information.

Courier services and specimen delivery

For NSW submissions, please contact the relevant Customer Service team for courier account details and to order consignment notes.

For submitters outside of NSW, Couriers can be contacted directly to make bookings and arrange collection of packages at the submitters own cost.

Commercial couriers may use either road or air transport and specimens should therefore be packed in accordance with International Air Transport Association (IATA) requirements. Most submission sent by veterinarians to the APHL for testing are defined as “Biological Substance Category B” and must be packed according to the IATA packing instructions 650 (Biological Substance Category B). As requirements for transport can change, customers should consult with their transport agent to obtain current requirements.

Samples may also be hand delivered to the site during normal business hours (8.30am - 4.30pm).

Sample Type	Laboratory	Street Address
Animal (including aquatic animals)	NSW Animal and Plant Health Laboratories (APHL)	EMAI, Woodbridge Road, Menangle NSW 2568