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J Clin Microbiol. 2008 Dec 24. [Epub ahead of print]
Practical considerations for high-throughput influenza A virus surveillance studies in wild birds using molecular diagnostic tests.
Munster VJ, Baas C, Lexmond P, Bestebroer TM, Guldemeester J, Beyer WE, de Wit E, Schutten M, Rimmelzwaan GF, Osterhaus AD, Fouchier RA. - National Influenza Center and Department of Virology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Influenza A virus surveillance studies in wild bird populations are essential to improve our understanding of the role of wild birds in the ecology of low pathogenic avian influenza viruses and their potential contribution to the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 viruses.
Whereas the primary results of such surveillance programs have been communicated extensively, practical considerations and technical implementation options generally receive little attention.
Here, the data obtained from 39490 samples were used to compare the impact of variables such as sampling procedure, storage and transport conditions, and the choice of molecular and classical diagnostic tests on the outcome of the results.
Molecular diagnostic tests allowed estimation of "virus load" in samples, with implications for the ability to isolate virus.
Virus isolation in embryonated eggs was more sensitive than virus isolation in cell cultures.
Storage and transport conditions had less impact on diagnostics using molecular tests as compared to classical approaches.
These findings indicate that molecular diagnostic tests were more sensitive and more reliable than classical tests.
In addition, molecular diagnostic tests facilitated analyses in real time, and allowed discrimination of low and highly pathogenic H5 influenza viruses without the need of virus isolation.
Critical assessment of the methods used within large surveillance studies like this, will facilitate comparison of results between studies.
Moreover, the lessons learned from current large-scale influenza A virus surveillance activities could be valuable for other pathogen surveillance programs in the future.
PMID: 19109483 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
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Practical considerations for high-throughput influenza A virus surveillance studies in wild birds using molecular diagnostic tests.
Munster VJ, Baas C, Lexmond P, Bestebroer TM, Guldemeester J, Beyer WE, de Wit E, Schutten M, Rimmelzwaan GF, Osterhaus AD, Fouchier RA. - National Influenza Center and Department of Virology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Influenza A virus surveillance studies in wild bird populations are essential to improve our understanding of the role of wild birds in the ecology of low pathogenic avian influenza viruses and their potential contribution to the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 viruses.
Whereas the primary results of such surveillance programs have been communicated extensively, practical considerations and technical implementation options generally receive little attention.
Here, the data obtained from 39490 samples were used to compare the impact of variables such as sampling procedure, storage and transport conditions, and the choice of molecular and classical diagnostic tests on the outcome of the results.
Molecular diagnostic tests allowed estimation of "virus load" in samples, with implications for the ability to isolate virus.
Virus isolation in embryonated eggs was more sensitive than virus isolation in cell cultures.
Storage and transport conditions had less impact on diagnostics using molecular tests as compared to classical approaches.
These findings indicate that molecular diagnostic tests were more sensitive and more reliable than classical tests.
In addition, molecular diagnostic tests facilitated analyses in real time, and allowed discrimination of low and highly pathogenic H5 influenza viruses without the need of virus isolation.
Critical assessment of the methods used within large surveillance studies like this, will facilitate comparison of results between studies.
Moreover, the lessons learned from current large-scale influenza A virus surveillance activities could be valuable for other pathogen surveillance programs in the future.
PMID: 19109483 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
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