Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System
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9.9 Avian Virology

PADLS has five diagnostic virology service areas:

  1. avian and mammalian virology
  2. aquaculture
  3. cell culture
  4. electron microscopy
  5. biotechnology (i.e., PCR, ELISA, PAGE)

Tests and assays are arranged by a weekly schedule, but designated emergency submissions are processed immediately upon arrival of the specimen for tests requested. The cell culture section maintains a variety of cell lines and also SPF chicken embryonating eggs to provide isolation and identification of viruses from a variety of species. Electron microscopy (negative staining or thin section methods) to identify viruses in tissue specimens is used where viruses are difficult to propagate or fail to replicate in cells, or to identify new pathogens by their morphology.

Tissues for virus isolation should be collected as aseptically as possible. Viral (VTM) and chlamydial (CTM) transport media are available, at no cost, from PADLS laboratories.

Note: Virus isolations may require several serial passages for amplification of replication and expression of viable and measurable virus in a specimen. Hence, certain virus isolations may require up to 28 days or longer.

Procedure codes
AGIDagar gel immunodiffusionFAfluorescent antibodyPCRpolymerase chain reaction
CTMchlamydia transport mediaIHCimmunohistochemistryVIvirus isolation
EMelectron microscopyPAGEpolyacrylamide gel electrophoresisVTMviral transport media

Test/
Agent		Site ProcedureSpeciesTissue/
Specimen		 ContainerShipping**Turn-
Around		 Remarks
Adenovirus Type 1 PSUAGID
VI
FA		 turkeys, chickens,quail Lung*, intestines, feces, pharynx, kidney, liver, tracheal swab, cloacal swab Leak-proof container with VTM. Overnight on ice, do not freeze 7-14 days Test is set up M-F
VTM is available through NBC, PSU and PVL
NBC VI
Adenovirus Type 2: Hemorrhagic Enteritis Virus PSUAGID
FA		 turkeys, pheasants, chickens Spleen*, intestine Leak-proof container with VTM. Overnight on ice, do not freeze 48-72 hoursTest is set up M-F
Avian Encephalomyelitis PSUVI chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail Brain*Leak-proof container with VTM. Overnight on ice, do not freeze 21-28 daysTest is set up M-F
Avian Influenza NBC
PSU
PVL		VI
HA, HI
ELISA
dot-ELISA
IHC
PCR		chickens, turkeys, wild birds, ducks, pheasants Intestine, lung, trachea*, air sac, sinus, tracheal swab, cloacal swab Leak-proof with VTM Overnight on ice, do not freeze 7-14 daysTest is set up M-F at NBC and PSU
VI test is set T-Th at PVL
Serotyping is sent to NVSL
Tracheal swabs are preferred for PCR
Avian Splenomegaly and Marble Spleen Disease (AAV-2) PSUAGID
FA		 chickens, pheasants, chukars, peafowl Spleen*Leak-proof with VTM Overnight on ice, do not freeze 7 daysTest is set up M-F
Chlamydia: ornithosis PSUFA
CI
IHC		 turkeys, ducks, pigeons. other fowl Liver, air sac, spleen, feces*, pharyngeal/ choanal swab Leak-proof with CTM Overnight on ice, do not freeze 7-14 daysTest is set up on Tuesday at PSU
Chlamydia: psittacosis PSUFA
CI
IHC		 psittacines, caged/wild birds Liver, air sac, spleen, feces*, pharyngeal/ choanal swab Leak-proof with CTM Overnight on ice, do not freeze 7-14 daysTest is set up on Tuesday
Hemorrhagic Enteritis PVLAGID turkeys.5 ml serum gel packM,T,W,F 2 days 
Herpesvirus:non-psittacine PSUFA
VI
EM		 pet birds, raptors, falcons, pigeons, quail, cranes, passeriforms All organs with gross lesions, oropharyngeal swab Leak-proof with VTM Overnight on ice, do not freeze 7-14 daysTest is set up  M-F
Infectious Bronchitis Virus PSU
NBC		VI
serotyping
dot ELISA
PCR
IFA		 chickensTracheal/cloacal swabs*, cecal tonsil, trachea, lung, kidney*, oviduct Leak-proof with VTM Overnight on ice, do not freeze 7-21 daysTest is set up M-F
Serotyping for only Mass, Conn and Ark 99.
Infectious Bursal Disease PSUAGID
VI
FA		 chickens, turkeys Bursa*, spleen, kidney Leak-proof with VTM Overnight on ice, do not freeze 7-14 daysTest is set up M-F
Infectious Laryngotracheitis NBC
PSU
PVL		VI
FA		 chickens, pheasants, peafowl, guinea fowl Trachea*, lung, tracheal exudate Leak-proof with VTM Overnight on ice, do not freeze 7-14 daysTest is set up  M-F at NBC
VI test is set up T-Th at PVL and PSU
Orthoreovirus PSUVI
AGID
FA
EM
PAGE		 turkeys, chickens, Muscovy ducks Intestine*, pancreas, liver, lung, feces Leak-proof with VTM Overnight on ice, do not freeze 7-14 daysTest is set up T-Th
Papovavirus: polyoma; Budgerigar Fledgling's Disease PSUVI
EM		 fledgling, budgerigars, large psittacines Affected tissues (i.e. liver, spleen, bursa, brain) Leak-proof with VTM Overnight on ice, do not freeze 7-14 daysTest is set up on Wednesday
Paramyxovirus Type 1: Newcastle Disease NBC
PVL
PSU		 VI
HA
HI
PCR		chickens, turkeys, caged/wild birds, pigeons Tracheal or cloacal swabs, lung, air sac, spleen, trachea, kidney, brain, liver Leak-proof with VTM Overnight on ice, do not freeze 3-14 daysTest is set up  M-F at NBC and PSU and T-Th at PVL.

Pathotyping sent to NVSL
Paramyxovirus Type 2: Yucaipa and Paramyxovirus Type 3 PSUVI
 		 chickens, turkeys, caged/wild birds Tracheal or cloacal swabs*, lung, air sac, spleen, trachea, feces Leak-proof with VTM Overnight on ice, do not freeze 3-14 daysTest is set up M-F
Poxvirus NBC
PSU		VI
FA
EM
AGID		 chickens, turkeys, caged/wild birds Scab with underlying epithelium*, upper respiratory tract, nodular lesions Leak-proof with VTM Overnight on ice, do not freeze 10-14 daysTest is set up  M-F at NBC and PSU.

VTM is available through PSU and PVL
Psittacine Herpesvirus PSUVI
FA		 psittacinesLiver*, intestine, lung, spleen, esophagus Leak-proof with VTM Overnight on ice, do not freeze 5-14 daysTest is set up  T-F at PSU.

VTM is available through NBC, PSU and PVL
Reovirus: Viral Arthritis NBC
PSU		VI
AGID
FA
EM		 chickensSynovial joint fluids*, tendon sheath, lung, spleen, cloaca, trachea, intestines, feces Leak-proof with VTM Overnight on ice, do not freeze 3-14 daysTest is set up M-F at NBC.

Test is set up T-F at PSU.

VTM is available through NBC, PSU and PVL
Rotavirus PSU
 		VI
EM		 chickens, turkeys, pheasants Intestine, feces* Leak-proof with VTM Overnight on ice, do not freeze 2-14 days Test is set up  M-F at PSU.

VTM is available through NBC, PSU and PVL
PVLPAGE
IFA
Turkey Viral Hepatitis: picornavirus PSUVI
EM		 turkeysLiver*, pancreas, intestine, feces Leak-proof with VTM Overnight on ice, do not freeze 7-21 daysTest is set up M-F at PSU.

VTM is available through NBC, PSU and PVL
West Nile Virus PVL IHC
 		 All species Fixed kidney, brain, intestine, spleen, lung Formalin fixed tissues Standard shipping 7-14 days  
PCR Necropsy specimen Delivery within 24 hours of death
* = preferred specimen
** If shipping to PSU, do not use the US Postal Service

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