Akabane disease (sheep and cattle)

Description

Akabane virus is a member of the Simbu serogroup of the family Bunyaviridae, genus Orthobunyavirus. It is spread by biting midges (Culicoides spp). Akabane virus infection is associated with abortion, stillbirth and congenital abnormalities such as arthrogryposis and hydranencephaly however, the severity of clinical signs and pathology are variable depending on the species of animal and time of infection. Disease due to Akabane virus is mostly observed in cattle due to the long period of gestation and breeding throughout the year.

Diagnosis and tests available

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is supported by the history, clinical signs, pathology and supportive tests.

Tests available

Test	Sample(s) required	Days of the week test is conducted	Turnaround time¹
Akabane virus antibody ELISA	Clotted blood (red top tube) or foetal fluid	Batched tested weekly	Up to 1 week
Akabane virus PCR	Clotted blood, EDTA, Fresh tissue and semen	According to demand	2-3 working days
Akabane VNT²	Clotted blood (red top tube)	Batch tested on Thursday	1-2 weeks
Histopathology examination	Fixed tissues	Monday – Friday	Up to 2 weeks for brain samples. Up to 5 days for other sample types.

¹Turnaround times are provided as a guide only. For specific information about your submission please contact Customer Service.

² This test is predominantly used for regulatory testing.

Additional Information

Specimen requirements

Blood (without anti-coagulant)
10 ml of blood (including at least 2 ml of serum) from the dam or neonate that has not suckled collected in a plain red top tube. DO NOT use a serum separator tube Submit chilled
Fixed tissues
Brain, spinal cord, muscle and other tissues as indicated by gross examination Submit fixed in neutral buffered formalin at a ratio of 10:1 formalin: tissue
Foetal fluid
2 ml; preferably pericardial or pleural rather than heart blood or peritoneal fluid which are more likely to be contaminated Submit chilled
Fresh tissue
Fresh brain submitted from the aborted foetus Submit chilled

Appropriate tissues and fluids for serology should also be submitted to exclude Pestivirus infection which can cause arthrogryposis and CNS lesions.
Serum samples are only useful in eliminating a diagnosis of Akabane virus infection in the dam however, the presence of antibody in an unsuckled calf or lamb is diagnostic
Akabane virus may be detected in the brain of clinically affected new-bon calves or lambs by PCR. A negative result on this test does not preclude a diagnosis of Akabane disease as the infection has usually occurred months earlier. However, Akabane virus is more readily detected in the brains of aborted foetuses as abortion may occur relatively soon after infection.

Customer Service

Contact Customer Service for enquiries relating to testing and results, quotations and pricing, couriers, sample submission and invoicing.

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CONTACT DETAILS
Phone	1800 675 623
Email	laboratory.services@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Operating Hours	8:30am-4:30pm Monday-Friday (excluding public holidays) 8:30am-12:00pm Saturday (for deliveries only)
Postal Address	Private Bag 4008, Narellan NSW 2567

Quotations

For Animal export, Plant health or Veterinary quotations, please complete the online quotation request

For Edible oil & oilseed or Feed quality quotations and pricing enquiries, please contact DPI AgEnviro Labs at Wagga Wagga on (02) 6938 1957

For Plant nutrition, Soil health or Water quality quotations and pricing enquiries, please contact DPI AgEnviro Labs at Wollongbar on (02) 6626 1103

Submission Forms

Veterinary Specimen Advice Form

Please Note: These documents are not fully web accessible, please contact Customer Service (laboratory.services@dpi.nsw.gov.au) for more information.

Courier services and specimen delivery

For NSW submissions, please contact the relevant Customer Service team for courier account details and to order consignment notes.

For submitters outside of NSW, Couriers can be contacted directly to make bookings and arrange collection of packages at the submitters own cost.

Commercial couriers may use either road or air transport and specimens should therefore be packed in accordance with International Air Transport Association (IATA) requirements. Most submission sent by veterinarians to the SVDL for testing are defined as “Biological Substance Category B” and must be packed according to the IATA packing instructions 650 (Biological Substance Category B). As requirements for transport can change, customers should consult with their transport agent to obtain current requirements.

Samples may also be hand delivered to the site during normal business hours (8.30am - 4.30pm).

Sample Type	Laboratory	Street Address
Animal (including aquatic animals)	NSW Animal and Plant Health Laboratories (APHL)	EMAI, Woodbridge Road, Menangle NSW 2568