OIE RL for Bluetongue Dr Peter Daniels Australia

OIE RL for « Bluetongue » – « Dr Peter Daniels » – « Australia »

OIE Reference Laboratory Reports
Activities in 2012

Name of disease (or topic) for which you are a designated OIE Reference Laboratory: / Bluetongue
Address of laboratory / Australian Animal Health Laboratory
CSIRO Livestock Industries
Private Bag 24, Geelong, Victoria, 3220, Australia
Tel.: / (61 3) 5227 5000
Fax: / (61 3) 5227 5555
e-mail address: /
website: /
Name (including Title) of Head of Laboratory (Responsible Official): / Dr Kurt Zuelke
Name (including Title and Position) of OIE Reference Expert: / Dr Peter Daniels
Date of submission to the OIE / 23 February 2013

ToR:To use, promote and disseminate diagnostic methods validated according to OIE Standards

Test recommended by the OIE / Total number of test performed last year
Indirect diagnostic tests / Nationally / Internationally
c-ELISA / 128 / 18
AGID / 19
VNT / 75 / 10
Direct diagnostic tests / Nationally / Internationally

Virus isolation in ECE and cell culture

/ 4

Real-time RT-PCR

/ 50

Serogrouping ELISA

/ 19

Serotyping by Neutralization

/ 75

Molecular topotyping

/ 56

ToR:To develop reference material in accordance with OIE requirements, and implement and promote the application of OIE Standards.

To store and distribute to national laboratories biological reference products and any other reagents used in the diagnosis and control of the designated pathogens or disease.

2.Did your laboratory produce or store imported standard reference reagents officially recognised by the OIE or other international bodies?

Yes No

3.Did your laboratory supply standard reference reagents to OIE Member Countries?

Yes No

4.Did your laboratory produce diagnostic reagents other than the OIE-approved standard reference reagents?

Yes No

5.Did your laboratory produce vaccines?

Yes No

6.Did your laboratory supply vaccines to OIE Member Countries?

Yes No

ToR:To develop, standardise and validate, according to OIE Standards, new procedures for diagnosis and control of the designated pathogens or diseases

7.Did your laboratory develop new diagnostic methods validated according to OIE Standards for the designated pathogen or disease?

Yes No

8.Did your laboratory develop new vaccines according to OIE Standards for the designated pathogen or disease?

Yes No

Name of the new test or diagnostic method or vaccine developed / Description and References (Publication, website, etc.)
Adaption and verification of the Hoffman real time PCR for the detection of BTV in biological specimens, with reference to BTV strains circulating in Australasia / In house validation data available

ToR:To provide diagnostic testing facilities, and, where appropriate, scientific and technical advice on disease control measures to OIE Member Countries

9.Did your laboratory carry out diagnostic testing for other OIE Member Countries?

Yes No

Name of OIE Member Country seeking assistance / Date
(dd/mm) / No. samples received for provision of diagnostic support (i.e. from surveillance campaign) / No. samples received for provision of confirmatory diagnoses
Papua New Guinea / 7 March / 18

10.Did your laboratory provide expert advice in technical consultancies on the request of an OIE Member Country?

Yes No

Name of the OIE Member Country receiving a technical consultancy / Purpose / How the advice was provided
Papua New Guinea / Interpretation of surveillance results / Written communication

ToR:To carry out and/or coordinate scientific and technical studies in collaboration with other laboratories, centres or organisations

11.Did your laboratory participate in international scientific studies in collaboration with OIE Member Countries other than the own?

Yes No

Title of the study / Duration / Purpose of the study / Partners (Institutions) / OIE Member Countries involved other than your country
No formal title / ongoing / Exchange of orbivirus sequence information / Pirbright Laboratory / UK

ToR:To collect, process, analyse, publish and disseminate epizootiological data relevant to the designated pathogens or diseases

12.Did your Laboratory collect epizootiological data relevant to international disease control?

Yes No

13.Did your laboratory disseminate epizootiological data that had been processed and analysed?

Yes No

14.What method of dissemination of information is most often used by your laboratory?

(Indicate in the appropriate box the number by category)

a) Articles published in peer-reviewed journals:5

b) International conferences:2

c) National conferences:1

ToR: To provide scientific and technical training for personnel from OIE Member Countries

To recommend the prescribed and alternative tests of vaccines as OIE Standards

15.Did your laboratory provide scientific and technical training to laboratory personnel from other OIE Member Countries?

Yes No

a) Technical visits:...... 1

Type of technical training provided (a, b, c or d) / Country of origin of the expert(s) provided with training / No. participants from the corresponding country
a / Russia / 1

ToR:To maintain a system of quality assurance, biosafety and biosecurity relevant for the pathogen and the disease concerned

16.Does your laboratory have a Quality Management System certified according to an International Standard?

Yes No

AAHL maintains certification to AS/NZS ISO 9001:2008 for the management of its Quality Assurance System as well as AS/NZS ISO 14001:2004 for environmental management.

17.Is your laboratory accredited by an international accreditation body?

Yes No

AAHL’s diagnostic operations are conducted under NATA accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025:2005. AAHL is also accredited to ISO/IEC 17043:2010 as an international proficiency testing provider for exotic disease agents.

Test for which your laboratory is accredited / Accreditation body
AAHL’s scope of accreditation includes the following classes of tests :
20.10 Microbiology
For companion animals, production animals, production avian species, aquatic
animals, equine species and avian species
20.11 Bacteriology
.01 Diagnostic bacteriology - incorporating identification by simple microscopy,
cultural methods of detection and identification of organisms
.03 Immunological methods of antigen detection
20.13 Other Microorganisms (including mycoplasma, rickettsia, algae)
.01 Diagnostic microbiology - incorporating identification by simple microscopy,
cultural methods of detection and identification of organisms, including inocuity testing
20.14 Virology
.01 Diagnostic virology - non-cultural (immunological) methods of detection
.02 Diagnostic virology - cultural methods of detection and identification of organisms, including inocuity testing
.05 Quantitative procedures
20.15 Prions
.01 Histological identification of prion disease lesions
.02 Detection of prion protein by immunological methods (including ELISA, Western
Blots, immunohistochemistry)
.04 Detection of prion protein by bioassay
20.25 Serology of Infection
For companion animals, production animals, production avian species, equine
species and avian species
.01 Agar gel immunodiffusion tests
.02 Complement fixation tests
.03 Enzyme linked immunosorbent assays
.04 Haemagglutination inhibition
.05 Indirect fluorescent antibody tests
.06 Microscopic agglutination tests
.08 Serum agglutination tests
.09 Serum neutralisation tests
.10 Latex agglutination tests
.99 Other : Testing for rabies and rabies related lyssaviruses on human specimens
20.50 Anatomical Pathology
For companion animals, production animals, production avian species, laboratory
animals, zoo animals, wildlife, aquatic animals, equine species and avian species
20.52 Histopathology
.01 Processing of fixed specimens for histology
.04 Immunohistochemistry
.05 Histological interpretation
20.53 Electron Microscopy
.01 Transmission electron microscopy
.02 Scanning electron microscopy
.04 Immunohistochemistry electron microscopy
20.54 Necropsy
20.80 Molecular Diagnostics
.01 Identification by extraction and amplification
.02 Sequencing
.03 Genotyping
.99 Other : Testing for rabies and rabies related lyssaviruses on human specimens by molecular techniques / NATA, affiliated with ILAC

18.Does your laboratory maintain a “biorisk management system” for the pathogen and the disease concerned? (See Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals 2012, Chapter 1.1.3 or Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals 2012, Chapter 1.1.1)

Yes No

ToR:To organise and participate in scientific meetings on behalf of the OIE

19.Did your laboratory organise scientific meetings on behalf of the OIE?

Yes No

20.Did your laboratory participate in scientific meetings on behalf of the OIE?

Yes No

ToR:To establish and maintain a network with other OIE Reference Laboratories designated for the same pathogen or disease and organise regular inter-laboratory proficiency testing to ensure comparability of results

21.Did your laboratory exchange information with other OIE Reference Laboratories designated for the same pathogen or disease?

Yes No

22.Was your laboratory involved in maintaining a network with OIE Reference Laboratories designated for the same pathogen or disease by organising or participating in proficiency tests?

Yes No

Purpose of the proficiency tests: (validation of a diagnostic protocol: specify the test; quality control of vaccines: specify the vaccine type, etc.) / Role of your Reference Laboratory (organiser/ participant) / No. participants / Participating OIE Ref. Labs/ organising OIE Ref. Lab.
Discussions to develop standards for EHD / participant / 5

23.Did your laboratory collaborate with other OIE Reference Laboratories for the same disease on scientific research projects for the diagnosis or control of the pathogen of interest?

Yes No

ToR:To organise inter-laboratory proficiency testing with laboratories other than OIE Reference Laboratories for the same pathogens and diseases to ensure equivalence of results.

24.Did your laboratory organise or participate in inter-laboratory proficiency tests with laboratories other than OIE Reference Laboratories for the same disease?

Yes No

Purpose for inter-laboratory test comparisons[1] / No. participating laboratories / Participating OIE Member Countries
Harmonising existing test methods for real time PCR for detection of BTV in specimens (3 rounds) / 5 / Australian state laboratories

ToR: To place expert consultants at the disposal of the OIE

25.Did your laboratory place expert consultants at the disposal of the OIE?

x Yes No

Kind of consultancy / Location / Subject (facultative )
Provision of comments on OIE Standards / By email / Comments to develop an EHD Chapter for the OIE Terrestrial Manual
Member of the OIE Biological Standard Commission / Paris / Particpating at the September BSC meeting

Publications

Journal Articles

Boyle, D. B., Bulach, D. M., Amos-Ritchie, R., Adams, M. M., Walker, P. J., & Weir, R. (2012). Genomic Sequences of Australian Bluetongue Virus Prototype Serotypes Reveal Global Relationships and Possible Routes of Entry into Australia. J Virol, 86(12), 6724-6731. doi: 10.1128/jvi.00182-12
Cowled, C., Melville, L., Weir, R., Walsh, S., Gubala, A., Davis, S., & Boyle, D. (2012). Persistent and recrudescent infection in cattle following natural infection with Middle Point orbivirus. Arch Virol, 157(6), 1161-1165. doi: 10.1007/s00705-012-1277-z
Darpel, K., Monaghan, P., Simpson, J., Anthony, S., Veronesi, E., Brooks, H., Mertens, P. (2012). Involvement of the skin during bluetongue virus infection and replication in the ruminant host. Veterinary Research, 43(1), 40.
Eagles, D., Deveson, T., Walker, P. J., Zalucki, M. P., & Durr, P. (2012). Evaluation of long-distance dispersal of Culicoides midges into northern Australia using a migration model. Med Vet Entomol, 26(3), 334-340. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2915.2011.01005.x
Rose, K. A., Kirkland, P. D., Davis, R. J., Cooper, D. W., Blumstein, D., Pritchard, L. I., Lunt, R. A. (2012). Epizootics of sudden death in tammar wallabies (Macropus eugenii) associated with an orbivirus infection. Australian Veterinary Journal, 90(12), 505-509. doi: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.2012.00993.x

Conference Papers

Boyle, D., Amos-Ritchie, R., Walker, P., Adams, M., Weir, R., & Bulach, D. (2012). Large-scale genomic sequencing of Australian bluetongue viruses reveals complex patterns of virus entry and reassortment from 1977 to 2010. Paper presented at the 11th Arbovirus Research In Australia and 10th Mosquito Control Association Conference, Surfers Paradise, QLD.
Daniels, P. (2012). Emerging and Re-emerging Disease Control Facing New Challenges: Emerging Pathogens & Disease Surveillance Control (Abstract). Paper presented at the The 7th APBA Scientific Conference, Moving Towards One World-One Health, Bali, Indonesia.
Wang, J. (2012). Molecular diagnosis of emergency animal diseases at the Australian Animal Health Laboratory. Paper presented at the Molecular Diagnostics Workshop 2012 - National Centre for Infectious Disease and Biosecurity (NCBID), New Zealand, Wellington, New Zealand.

Annual reports of OIE Reference Laboratories, 20121

[1]See Interlaboratory test comparisons in: Laboratory Proficiency Testing at:
see point 1.3