Projects
Rapid diagnosis of strangles to improve horse health
Equine infectious diseases impact significantly on Australian thoroughbred breeders. A well-known example of such highly contagious disease is strangles, caused by bacteria Streptoccuss equi.
Accurate diagnosis is important for the management of affected horses. Diagnosis of strangles is based on isolation of the organism from clinical samples and/or costly molecular assays performed in specialist diagnostic laboratories. This means that there could be significant delays before diagnostic results are available.
This project will validate and evaluate rapid molecular Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) tests for strangles. These LAMP assays will can rapidly detect strangles DNA using only basic equipment. Upon validation of strangles LAMP assays, we will evaluate simple sample processing to allow for specimen testing without DNA extractions. Further, we will provide easy to follow written (pictorial) and video training protocols, allowing the LAMP assays to be performed in a veterinary practice or a stud lab with ease, and confidence. It is envisaged that the availability of these assays will support the rapid diagnosis of strangles and timely management of affected animals by veterinarians and breeders.
Accurate diagnosis is important for the management of affected horses. Diagnosis of strangles is based on isolation of the organism from clinical samples and/or costly molecular assays performed in specialist diagnostic laboratories. This means that there could be significant delays before diagnostic results are available.
This project will validate and evaluate rapid molecular Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) tests for strangles. These LAMP assays will can rapidly detect strangles DNA using only basic equipment. Upon validation of strangles LAMP assays, we will evaluate simple sample processing to allow for specimen testing without DNA extractions. Further, we will provide easy to follow written (pictorial) and video training protocols, allowing the LAMP assays to be performed in a veterinary practice or a stud lab with ease, and confidence. It is envisaged that the availability of these assays will support the rapid diagnosis of strangles and timely management of affected animals by veterinarians and breeders.
