Menangle virus infection

Description

Menangle virus infection is caused by (a paramyxovirus) and was first recognised when it caused a single outbreak of reproductive disease in pigs in a large piggery near Sydney in 1997. A control program, successfully managed by NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), subsequently eradicated the virus from the piggery. A large serological survey failed to find any evidence of infection in other Australian pigs. No further outbreaks of the disease have occurred to date.

Flying foxes (fruit bats) near the piggery had antibodies to the Menangle virus. It is believed that flying foxes are the natural host of the virus, and that it was a relatively rare event that led to the virus 'jumping' into pigs.

Clinical signs include a severe decline in farrowing rate, a high incidence of delayed returns to service, and a marked increase in the number of mummified and stillborn piglets, some with severe deformities (e.g. arthrogryposis, brachygnathia, kyphosis, porencephaly and hydranencephaly). Stillborn piglets may have a severe non-suppurative encephalomyelitis.

Diagnosis and tests available

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is based on history, gross pathology, histopathology, virus isolation and virus neutralisation test results.

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
MEN_VN	Menangle VNT*	Clotted blood (Red top) 10 ml of blood from farrowing sows with affected litters collected into a plain red top tube. Submit chilled.	Porcine	1-3W	$55.15	* 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
GEN_VI	Menangle virus isolation (3 passes)	Fresh tissue Whole mummified or stillborn piglets. Fresh tissues from aborted foetuses (brain, lung and heart) Submit chilled.	Porcine	3-4W	$174.10	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

MEN_VN

Menangle VNT*

Clotted blood (Red top)

10 ml of blood from farrowing sows with affected litters collected into a plain red top tube.
- Submit chilled.

Porcine

1-3W

$55.15

* 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

GEN_VI

Menangle virus isolation (3 passes)

Fresh tissue

Whole mummified or stillborn piglets.
Fresh tissues from aborted foetuses (brain, lung and heart)
- Submit chilled.

Porcine

3-4W

$174.10

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
Fixed tissues from foetuses (whole brain and spinal cord). 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

For Edible oil & oilseed or Feed quality quotations and pricing enquiries, please contact DPIRD AgEnviro Labs at Wagga Wagga on (02) 6938 1957

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