Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis/infectious pustular vulvovaginitis
OIE Reference Laboratory Reports
Activities in 2011
Name of disease (or topic) for which you are a designated OIE Reference Laboratory: / Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis/Infectious pustular vulvovagenitis
Address of laboratory: / Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency
(Formerly VLA),
New Haw, Addlestone,
Surrey KT15 3NB
UNITED KINGDOM
Tel.: / +44 (0)1932 341111
Fax: / +44 (0)1932 357239
e-mail address: /
website: / www.defra.gov.uk/ahvla
Name (including Title and Position) of Head of Laboratory (Responsible Official): / Dr Catherine Brown
Chief Executive
Name(including Title and Position) of OIE Reference Expert: / Dr Malcolm Banks,
Consultant Virologist
Name (including Title and Position) of writer of this report
(if different from above):
Part I: Summary of general activities related to the disease
1. Test(s) in use/or available for the specified disease/topic at your laboratory
Test / For / Specificity / TotaliELISA / Antibody / Whole virus / 4,630
cELISA / Antibody / gB / 16,036
cELISA / Antibody / gE / 1,471
Bulk Milk iELISA
/ Antibody / Whole virus / 1,246Individual Milk iELISA / Antibody / Whole virus / 27
VN (24H) / Antibody / Whole virus / 629
FAT
/ Antigen / BoHV-1 antigen / 3,099BHK-21 cell culture
/ Virus isolation / Viable BoHV-1 / 1,322Real time PCR
/ Viral DNA in semen / BoHV-1 DNA / 1052. Production and distribution of diagnostic reagents
Diagnostic reagents are prepared both for regional laboratories nationally, and for other countries. Materials supplied include known positive and negative sera for use as test controls, FITC conjugated antiserum for viral antigen detection, prepared positive and negative control slides for FAT, positive and negative semen samples for the PCR and antigen for use in ELISA tests. Individual freeze dried BoHV-1 strains are also supplied on request.
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
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
The VLA conducts national and international proficiency testing for IBR assays. The following proficiency tests are carried out for laboratories in the following countries:
PT0053 – IBR Serum ELISA Proficiency Test - 6 samples in each PT - is carried out 4 times annually for laboratories in France, Austria, UK (6) Spain (2), S. Africa, Slovenia, New Zealand, Italy, Portugal (2), Brazil, Denmark(3), Republic of Ireland (3), and Morocco(2), plus 2 AHVLA laboratories.
PT0052– IBR Milk ELISA Proficiency Test - 5 samples in each PT - is carried out 4 times annually for laboratories in Austria, UK (4) France, Norway, Republic of Ireland (3) plus 1 AHVLA laboratory.
PT0054 – Bovine respiratory virus package IBR/RSV/PI3 - Serum ELISA Proficiency Test - 4 samples in each PT - is carried out 2 times annually for laboratories in Czech Republic, Republic of Ireland (2), UK (3) Spain, Portugal and Morocco, plus 2 AHVLA laboratories.
PT0031 – Bovine respiratory virus package IBR/RSV/PI3 Antigen FAT slides Proficiency Test - 9 samples in each PT - is carried out 3 times annually for laboratories in the UK (9) plus 13 AHVLA laboratories.
4. Preparation and supply of international reference standards for diagnostic tests or vaccines
None
5. Research and development of new procedures for diagnosis and control
A research project is underway to refine and improve the cost and throughput of the Real-time PCR for viral DNA detection in bovine semen and tissue samples
6. Collection, analysis and dissemination of epizootiological data relevant to international disease control
A series of silent (subclinical) seroconversions to IBR virus in a UK bull stud are being investigated to determine the true cause of the reactions. The seroconversions are atypical in that the transition from negative to positive is extended to months rather than days, the conversion is shallow, reversible and in most cases confined to gB blocking assays (ie SNT and indirect ELISA negative). The main suspicions are another, related herpesvirus or an atypical BoHV-1 strain. The investigation is ongoing in collaboration with the OIE laboratory at the FLI, Reims, Germany.
7. Maintenance of a system of quality assurance, biosafety and biosecurity relevant to the pathogen and the disease concerned
Tests carried out within the AHVLA are assured by a comprehensive quality assurance system. The majority of tests are subject to 3rd party accreditation by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) to the internationally recognised ISO/IEC 17025 standard for laboratory competetence (AHVLA accreditation certificate number 1769).
8. Provision of consultant expertise to OIE or to OIE Member Countries
Consultant advice has been given, on request, to workers in Canada, The Republic of Ireland, India, Brazil, and Egypt.
9. Provision of scientific and technical training to personnel from other OIE Member Countries
None
10. Provision of diagnostic testing facilities to other OIE Member Countries
Primary diagnostic testing for serum antibody was provided on request to owners in Singapore, The Republic of Ireland, Jersey and Guernsey.
11. Organisation of international scientific meetings on behalf of OIE or other international bodies
None
12. Participation in international scientific collaborative studies
Collaboration continued with the expert at the IBR reference laboratory at the FLI, Reims, Germany (Dr M Beer) in relation to anomalous serum reactions with commercially available ELISA kits. These studies are ongoing.
13. Publication and dissemination of information relevant to the work of OIE (including list of scientific publications, internet publishing activities, presentations at international conferences)
¡ Presentations at international conferences and meetings
An invited seminar on IBR control in Europe was presented to vets, scientists, regulators and producers at a meeting in Dublin.
¡ Scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals
None
¡ Other communications
A seminar focussed on IBR and Animal Breeding Controls was given to a cattle stakeholder group in the UK.
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Annual reports of OIE Reference Centres, 2011 3