Epizootic Haemorrhagic Disease

Description

Epizootic haemorrhagic disease (EHD) is an arthropod borne viral disease of wild and domestic ruminants that is transmitted between hosts by species of Culicoides biting midges. EHD virus (EHDV) belongs to the genus Orbivirus, family Reoviridae and shares many characteristics with other members of the genus including bluetongue virus (BTV). Seven serotypes (1-2 and 4-8) of EHDV are currently recognised of which six have been detected in Australia (1, 2, 5, 6, 7 and 8). Disease due to EHDV has not been observed in Australia.

While EHDV is capable of infecting wild and domestic ruminants it has predominantly been associated with disease in feral deer, in particular white-tailed deer of North America. Severe clinical signs have also been observed in cattle infected overseas with the Ibaraki strain (EHDV-2) and more recently due to serotypes 6 and 7. Clinical signs when observed are similar to those of severe bluetongue in sheep and may range from peracute illness with death often occurring within 36 hours (particularly white-tailed deer) to more chronic with animals remaining unwell for several weeks.

More specifically, clinical signs reported in white-tailed deer include fever, anorexia, lethargy, lameness, respiratory distress, severe oedema of the head and neck, and ulcers and erosions in the oral cavity, rumen and abomasum; some animals develop extensive haemorrhages in many tissues including the skin and heart. In cattle, the disease is characterised by fever, anorexia, ulcerative stomatitis, swelling of eyelids, respiratory distress, nasal and ocular discharge, redness and scaling of muzzle and lips, lameness, erythema of the udder and difficulty swallowing  (Ibaraki disease). Like bluetongue, disease in NSW would be expected to occur in summer or autumn in animals with a history of being present in the bluetongue zone/ecological range of the Culicoides vectors.

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Diagnosis and tests available

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of disease is supported by history, clinical signs, pathology and confirmation of infection by PCR.

Tests available

Test
Sample(s) required
Days of the week
test is conducted
Turnaround time1

Epizootic Haemorrhagic Disease Virus Antibody AGID

Clotted blood

Batch Tested Friday

Up to 7D

Epizootic Haemorrhagic Disease Virus Real–time PCR

EDTA blood, semen, fresh tissue

According to demand 2-3D
Epizootic Haemorrhagic Disease Virus Isolation

EDTA blood, semen, fresh tissue

According to demand2              4W
Epizootic Haemorrhagic Disease Virus Neutralisation Test (All Serotypes)

Clotted blood

Referred to ACDPReferred to ACDP
Histopathology examinationFixed tissuesMonday to FridayUp to 5D

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

2  Please contact Customer Service to discuss requirements before submitting samples for testing

Additional Information

Specimen requirements

Sample TypeSample DescriptionSample Requirements
Clotted bloodRed top tube  (without anti-coagulant)10ml, submitted chilled
EDTAPurple top tube (contains anti-coagulant)10ml, submitted chilled
Fresh tissueSpleen, lung, lymph nodeSubmitted chilled
Fixed tissueCardiac and skeletal muscle and other tissues as indicated by gross examination
- in neutral buffered formalin
10:1 ratio, Fixed

Customer Service

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

NSW DPI's laboratories are committed to continual improvement of services. If you would like to provide feedback, please fill in and submit the online feedback form.

CONTACT DETAILS

Phone1800 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