Disease screening
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Blood parasites |
EcoGene is now able to test for:
Avian malaria
- We are offering a screening service for avian malaria using PCR from bird blood samples. Our previous research has shown that avian malaria is prevalent in New Zealand (Tompkins & Gleeson 2005). We are continuing to research the ecology of this disease with an aim to understand more about pathogenicity and impacts on native species.
Whataroa virus
- We can screen bird blood samples for this virus using reverse transcriptase PCR. Whataroa virus is an arthropod-borne group A arbovirus isolated in South Westland, New Zealand, in 1962. It has been serologically compared with other group A agents and appears most closely related to Sindbis virus.
Murine typhus
- We provide screening of rat blood samples for the presence of this flea-borne rickettsial disease using an end point PCR technique. This rodent disease can spill over to humans causing a non specific illness. In New Zealand it was first diagnosed in 1989, and cases reported in 1992 and 2006.
Chytrid fungus
- We are able to provide the standardised service for chytrid fungus detection from both swab and tissue samples derived from frogs.
References
Tompkins DM. & Gleeson DM. 2006. Relationship between avian malaria distribution and an exotic invasive mosquito in New Zealand. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand 36(2): 51-62.