Loop-mediated isothermal amplification tests to detect poultry pathogens

Summary

Several poultry diseases including Marek’s disease, IBDV and ILT have repeatedly demonstrated an ability to emerge from periods of adequate control to present a significant threat to industry – normally associated with failure of vaccinal control resulting in the evolution of the viral pathogen towards higher virulence. It is important that Australia have the capacity to monitor these diseases routinely and respond quickly and effectively to any occuring outbreaks. At present, there are a variety of tests available, ranging from ELISA tests for antibodies to specific real-time PCR assays. These tests are highly specific and accurate, but are either time-consuming or require expensive equipment and reagents. This makes these tests unsuitable for small laboratories or rapid on-farm testing. However, there is a high demand for rapid, low cost tests to detect poultry diseases in the field. This projects aims to provide to the Australian poultry industry a suite of rapid, sensitive and low cost tests for the detection of several viral poultry pathogens. The tests are based on the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method. These tests do not require specific equipment and are thus suitable for small laboratories and under field conditions.

Program

Chicken Meat

Research Organisation

University of New England

Objective Summary

1.Implement the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method for rapid and low cost detection of MDV, IBDV and ILT. 2. Compare sensitivity and robustness of the LAMP test with our suite of MDV, IBDV and available ILT real-time PCR assays on a variety of samples, particularly dust and feather materials. 3. Assess feasibility of performing pathogen testing in the field using LAMP