Glanders

Activities in 2009

Glanders

Dr Ulrich Wernery

Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, PO Box 597

Dubai –United Arab Emirates

Tel: (+ 971 4) 337 5165; Fax: (+ 971 4) 336 8638

Email:

Summary of general activities related to the disease

1.Test in use/or available for the diagnosis of Glanders at CVRL

TEST

/

For

/ Specificity / Total
cELISA / Antibody / Group / 34
CFT / Antibody / Group / 6,458

Bacterial Culture

/ Isolation / Strain / 11

PCR

/ Antigen / Strain / 1

2.Production and distribution of diagnostic reagents

Since we have isolated Burkholderia mallei in 2004 (Dubai 7), we are now using our own antigen for the CFT and cELISA as well as our own antibody produced in dromedaries and horses.

A small comparison between Ccpro antigen (Germany), Dubai 7 and CVRL cELISA with a well characterized mouse monoclonal antibody (3D11) has been performed and the result of which is seen in Table2.

Table 2: A comparison of the results of 34 positive Glanders sera investigated with CFT (Ccpro and Dubai 7) and cELISA

Number of positives / CFT / cELISA
Ccpro antigen (Germany) / Dubai 7 antigen (CVRL)
34 / 34 / 32 / 27

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

Establishing and evaluating cELISA for the serological diagnosis of Glanders with a well characterized mouse monoclonal antibody (3D11). This project is unfortunately still in the early stages due the severe difficulties in receiving positive and dubious equine sera from Brazil and Pakistan,where recently Glanders outbreaks occurred. However, from positive samples received over the last months from a suspected outbreak in Kuwait (see above Table), CVRL tries to standardize the cELISA in the near future. Upon completion CVRL would request the OIE acknowledgmentof this test as an alternative to CFT.

4.Preparation and supply of international reference standards for diagnostic tests or vaccines

Dubai 7 B.mallei strain and positive sera from a dromedary immunized with Dubai 7 has been distributed to Dr.med. Vet. Mandy Elschner and Ms. Peggy Marten from the Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Germany.

It is planned in the near future to prepare antigen for CFT, Western Blot and cELISA from Dubai 7 as well as hyperimmune sera for distribution to different laboratories on commercial basis.

5.Research and development of new procedures for diagnosis and control

Dr. med. Vet. Mandy Elschner and Peggy Marten from the Institute of BacterialInfections and Zoonoses, Germany, visitedCVRL in the month of February, 2009 and four CVRL specialized staff members were trained by them to estabish Western Blot and to prepare antigen from Dubai 7 for serological diagnosis .

6.Collection, analysis and dissemination of epizootiological data relevant to international disease control

In 2009 we tested 6,458 equine sera for import export purposes. 34 sera tested positive (see Table 2).Mostpositives were from Kuwait, which was notified to the Ministry of Environment and Water of the UAE. The suspicious cases were tested by means of CFT as well as cELISA with Ccpro and Dubai 7 antigen.

7.Provision of consultant expertise to OIE or to OIE Members

CVRL has offered help and some advice in writing to Kuwait, Pakistan and Brazil for the diagnosis and the eradication of Glanders from their equine population but little replyr was received. CVRL also communicated with Brussels (Dr.Fuessel) concerning suspected outbreak in Kuwait.

8.Provision of scientific and technical training to personnel from other OIE Members

Substantial training was given to Dr. med. Vet. Mandy Elschner and Ms. Peggy Marten from the Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Germany, to establish cELISA for Glanders.

9.Provision of diagnostic testing facilities to other OIE Members

See under point No.2

10.Organisation of international scientific meetings on behalf of OIE or other international bodies

No

11.Participation in international scientific collaborative studies

No

12.Publication and dissemination of information relevant to the work of OIE (including list of scientific publications, internet publishing activities, presentations at international conferences)

Wernery, U. (2009). Glanders. In: Infectious diseases of the horse, ed. T.S. Mair and R.E. Hutchinson. A peer reviewed publication of Equine Vet. J., pp. 253-260

Sprague, L.D., R. Zachariah, H. Neubauer, R. Wernery, M. Joseph, H.C. Scholz and U. Wernery (2009)

Prevalence-dependent use of serological tests for diagnosing glanders in horses.BMC Veterinary Research 5(32), 1-6

13.Inscription of diagnostic kits on the OIE Register

None

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Annual reports of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres, 20091