Issue link: http://life-technologies.uberflip.com/i/339017
2 Life Technologies | Animal Health Detection of bacterial respiratory pathogens—Nasal swabs can be tested by culture for the presence of B. bronchiseptica and toxigenic P. multocida jointly causing progressive rhinitis atrophicans (pRA). A very careful interpretation is recommended when commensals of the upper respiratory tract, such as H. parasuis, M. hyorhinis, or S. suis, are found in nasal swabs; such findings cannot be used to determine the aetiology of any respiratory diseases. Detection of viral respiratory pathogens and M. hyopneumoniae RNA/DNA (PCR- based tests)—The presence of pathogens that are difficult to cultivate can be confirmed in nasal swabs by PCR. Detection of SIV supports a presumptive diagnosis of influenza outbreak, whereas (no) detection of M. hyopneumoniae can be of interest in the context of monitoring SPF herds with suspicious clinical signs. Animal selection Deciding which animals to take samples from depends on the desired outcome: Detection of infection—Select animals with clinical signs. Absence of infection—Select animals with clinical signs; if there are no symptoms present, take samples from animals selected at random during a walk through the pens. Tracking infection status over time (i.e., longitudinal examination)*—Take the first samples on day 1 and repeat samples from the same animals at appropriate time intervals. To determine the infection status in different groups (i.e., cross-sectional examination)*—Take samples from animals of different ages, e.g., 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24 weeks of age. * If serological testing is to be used, send all samples to the laboratory in one batch to avoid potential variation between different batches of test kits. Diagnostic use