OSU Center Develops Assay For Detecting vvIBDV
US - The Ohio State University Center for Diagnostic Assays announces a significant diagnostic discovery. Animal Health Scientist, Daral Jackwood, Ph.D. has developed a validated REAL-TIME RT-PCR ASSAY (patent pending) for the rapid detection of nucleotide sequences that are unique to very virulent Infectious Bursal Disease Virus (vvIBDV) strains affecting the poultry industry. This new assay distinguishes vvIBDV strains from non-vvIBDV classic and variant strains.IBDV is one of the most economically significant diseases of the poultry industry. IBDV is able to rapidly produce mutated viruses that are resistant to vaccines. The vvIBDV strain causes unusually high morbidity and mortality.
Beginning with European outbreaks in the mid-1980’s, vvIBDV has spread in an explosive manner. This highly contagious, immunosuppresive disease has been identified in chicken flocks on nearly every continent of the world including Europe, Asia, South America, Central America and the Caribbean countries. Recent studies have shown that the incidence of variant IBDV is increasing throughout the United States.
Due to the ever-increasing worldwide trade of chicks and hatching eggs, there is a real and immediate concern that the vvIBDV will continue to spread, causing dramatic losses on every continent including North America and Australia. In 2004 alone, over 18 million chicks and 9 million poultry hatching eggs were imported into the United States.
Said Jackwood, “Until now, no validated rapid assay for the detection of all known vvIBDV strains existed. In countries with vvIBDV, this assay is necessary for the effective monitoring and control of this devastating disease. In countries without the virus, the assay would be a first line of defense needed to prevent vvIBDV from entering domestic poultry operations.
Ohio State University is currently inviting inquiries from scientific companies wishing to discuss a potential collaboration with Ohio State University to produce and market a vvIBDV REAL-TIME RT-PCR ASSAY Kit world-wide.