Malignant catarrhal fever

Description

Malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) is an infectious systemic disease that affects mainly cattle and deer. The disease occurs sporadically in cattle and is typically acute and fatal. Occasionally animals may experience mild infections with evidence of recovery. Clinical signs range from mucopurulent discharge from the eyes, nose and mouth, bilateral corneal opacity, mucosal erosions, swollen lymph nodes, lameness, and neurological signs (trembling, stupor, aggressiveness, and convulsions) to sudden death, fever and depression.

MCF is caused by gammaherpesvirus of the Macavirus genus, transmitted from sheep and wIldebeest (ovine herpesvirus-2 and alcelaphine herpesvirus-1). MCF is transmitted only from carriers to clinically susceptible animals; affected animals do not transmit the virus. Recrudescence of latent Infection can occur in previously infected animals which survived.

Diagnosis and tests available

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is supported by the history of sporadic infection, clinical signs, supportive histopathology and virus detection.

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
	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
	MCFV_RTPCR	Malignant Catarrhal Fever Virus Real–time PCR*	EDTA (Purple top) 10 ml of blood collected into an EDTA tube (purple top) Submit chilled	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.	According to demand

Code

Name

Samples required

Species

Turnaround time

Price (excl. GST)

Notes

Test days

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

MCFV_RTPCR

Malignant Catarrhal Fever Virus Real–time PCR*

EDTA (Purple top)

10 ml of blood collected into an EDTA tube (purple top)
- Submit chilled

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.

According to demand

Additional Specimen Requirements

Histopathology

Fixed tissue
Brain, liver, kidney, adrenal gland, bladder and nasal mucosa. Submit fixed in neutral buffered formalin at a 10:1 ratio of formalin: tissue

Note

Appropriate samples should also be submitted to exclude Pestivirus or Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis.

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