OIE Reference Laboratory Reports
Activities in 2011
Name of disease (or topic) for
which you are a designated OIE
Reference Laboratory:
Address of laboratory:
Equine rhinopneumonitis
Gluck Equine Research Center
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40546
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Tel.:
(+1-859) 218-1094
Fax:
(+1-859) 257-8542
e-mail address:
ptimoney@uky.edu
website:
Name (including Title and
Position) of Head of Laboratory
(Responsible Official):
http://www.ca.uky.edu/gluck/servpoe/as[
Dr Mats Troedsson
Name(including Title and
Position) of OIE Reference
Expert:
Dr Peter Timoney
Name (including Title and
Position) of writer of this report
(if different from above):
Dr Peter Timoney
Annual reports of OIE Reference Centres, 2011
1
Equine rhinopneumonitis
Part I: Summary of general activities related to the disease
1.
2.
Test(s) in use/or available for the specified disease/topic at your laboratory
Test
For
Specificity
Total
rPCR
Nucleic acid detection
Type – EHV-1
Type – EHV-4
551
Type
47
VN
Antibody
Rk-13/ EEC cell culture
Virus Isolation
FAT
Antigen detection
200
49
Type
555
Production and distribution of diagnostic reagents
 The following non-OIE approved diagnostic reagents for equine herpesvirus 1 & 4 (EHV-1 & 4) infections are
available for distribution: cell lines (RK-13 continuous rabbit kidney cells, ATCC37; equine endothelial
diploid cell line) for virus isolation and quantitation, virus strains and PCR kits for EHV-1 &4 virus detection.
 Estimated quantities of reagents used in-house/distributed nationally:
RK-13 cell line: 105 x 150 cm2 flasks
Equine endothelial cell line: 85 x75 cm2 flasks
Part II: Activities specifically related to the mandate
of OIE Reference Laboratories
3.
International harmonisation and standardisation of methods for diagnostic testing or the
production and testing of vaccines
a)
Establishment and maintenance of a network with other OIE Reference Laboratories
designated for the same pathogen or disease and organisation of regular inter-laboratory
proficiency testing to ensure comparability of results
None undertaken or participated in during 2011.
b)
Organisation of inter-laboratory proficiency testing with laboratories other than OIE
Reference Laboratories for the same pathogens and diseases to ensure equivalence of
results
None undertaken or participated in during 2011.
4.
Preparation and supply of international reference standards for diagnostic tests or vaccines
Currently, there are no OIE formally approved reference materials for EHV-1 or EHV-4 available from this
laboratory. No requests have been received for reference virus strains, monospecific antisera against either EHV-1
or 4, or test materials for evaluation of proficiency in agent detection or antibody determination in 2011.
5.
2
Research and development of new procedures for diagnosis and control
Annual reports of OIE Reference Centres, 2011
Equine rhinopneumonitis
Three research studies currently in progress at the Gluck Center relate 1) to evaluation of the antiviral activity of
herpesvirus DNA polymerase inhibitors against neuropathgenic and non-neuropathogenic strains of EHV-1, 2) to
investigation of the molecular characteristics of neuropathogenic strains of EHV-1, and 3) to assessment of the
sensitivity and specificity of a new allelic discrimination rPCR assay for identification of EHV-1 and
determination of virus genotype in clinical materials.
6.
Collection, analysis and dissemination of epizootiological data relevant to international disease
control
Studies are in progress aimed at a) determining the genetic diversity among strains of EHV-1 linked to equine
neurologic disease, and b) investigating the possible association of EHV-1with EHV-2, and/or EHV-5, in causing
respiratory disease in weanling/yearling horses.
7.
Maintenance of a system of quality assurance, biosafety and biosecurity relevant to the
pathogen and the disease concerned
Since its initial designation as an OIE Reference Center for equine rhinopneumonitis in 2009, the Laboratory has
functioned/operated under stringent standards in all aspects of specimen handling, performance of tests for agent
detection or antibody determination, maintenance of a comprehensive record keeping system and reporting of test
results. It is currently engaged in improvement of various diagnostic tests and their validation as well as
development of a modified live vaccine virus for the prevention and control of equine rhinopneumonitis,
especially equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy. Performance of all test procedures is carried out in strict
conformity with the methodologies detailed in the OIE Standards Manual. A comprehensive set of Standard
Operating Procedures is in place; these provide detailed information on all aspects of the functioning of the
reference laboratory consistent with the recommendations set out in the OIE Quality Standard and Guidelines for
Veterinary Laboratories: Infectious Diseases (2nd edition, 2008).
8.
Provision of consultant expertise to OIE or to OIE Member Countries
Consultation and collaboration on establishing the genotypic characteristics of strains of EHV-1 with proven
ability to cause neurologic disease. There was no participation in any OIE meetings or international missions in
2011.
9.
Provision of scientific and technical training to personnel from other OIE Member Countries
None in 2011.
10. Provision of diagnostic testing facilities to other OIE Member Countries
No diagnostic services were provided to other Member Countries.
11. Organisation of international scientific meetings on behalf of OIE or other international bodies
No international meetings on equine herpesvirus 1 & 4 related diseases were organized in 2011.
12. Participation in international scientific collaborative studies
No international collaborative studies are currently in progress.
13. Publication and dissemination of information relevant to the work of OIE (including list of
scientific publications, internet publishing activities, presentations at international conferences)
None.
_______________
Annual reports of OIE Reference Centres, 2011
3