Comprehensive Test Menu

Comprehensive Equine Respiratory RealPCR Panel

Faster, more definitive diagnoses of equine respiratory disease

Identifying causative pathogens for respiratory disease is critical for determining treatments, implementing biosecurity protocols and managing the spread of disease. With the Comprehensive Equine Respiratory RealPCR Panel, veterinarians can now submit one specimen to test for up to nine respiratory diseases.

Equine Herpesvirus Type 1

Numerous outbreaks of EHV-1 have hit the equine industry, resulting in great loss.

EHV-1, a virus often found latent in normal horses, can present as respiratory disease or neurologic disease, or cause abortions. Once in a population of horses, the virus is spread quickly and can cause devastating results.

The Equine Herpesvirus Type 1 (EHV-1) RealPCR Test helps you confidently:

• Diagnose horses exhibiting clinical signs consistent with EHV-1 disease
• Diagnose horses exposed to confirmed EHV-1 cases
• Isolate infected or exposed horses from other susceptible horses in a timely manner
• Identify EHV-1 strains containing a mutation that is highly associated with neurologic clinical signs

Equine Herpesvirus Type 4

Equine herpesvirus type 4 (EHV-4; equine rhinopneumonitis virus) is a health risk to equine populations worldwide. Disease severity depends on multiple factors and may be latent in normal horses. And because clinical signs are similar to other respiratory diseases, it is difficult to make a definitive diagnosis from clinical presentation alone.

The Equine Herpesvirus Type 4 (EHV-4) RealPCR Test identifies:

• EHV-4 in horses presenting with respiratory clinical signs
• Horses that have been exposed to confirmed EHV-4 cases

PCR methods help distinguish between EHV-4, EHV-1 and EHV-1 neuropathogenic strains

Horses presenting with respiratory disease may have a dual infection with both EHV-1 and EHV-4. With the EHV-4 and EHV-1 RealPCR Tests, an equine practitioner can quickly distinguish between EHV-4, EHV-1, and the EHV-1 neuropathogenic mutant strain, to manage disease and prevent the spread of the virus to other horses.

Specimen requirements

2 mL EDTA whole blood and/or deep nasopharyngeal swabs (one from each nostril). Please submit dry, plastic-stemmed swabs, without transport media, in an RTT or an empty, sterile tube; keep refrigerated.

Note: Nasal swabs are used to detect animals shedding the virus or that were recently exposed to a confirmed case. A whole blood specimen is recommended from symptomatic animals to detect viremia.

With IDEXX RealPCR tests, you can count on

• The latest innovation in PCR technology, with the virtual elimination of false positives.
• Fast answers, so you can work through your list of differential diagnoses faster.

Turnaround time

1–3 working days

Reference Library

Speed: A Necessity for EHV-1 Diagnosis

Salmonella Biosecurity Plan

Real-time PCR and Dr. Christian Leutenegger

IDEXX Reference Laboratories Responds to EHV-1 Cases

Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM) Tests

Industry-leading EPM testing from IDEXX

• EPM by Western Blot (Serum)
• EPM by Western Blot (CSF)

Twelve years of collaboration with prominent researchers, along with countless conversations and consultations with veterinarians in the field, places IDEXX in a unique position. Since 1995, we have tested thousands of EPM specimens and accumulated a wealth of experience, expertise and a vast store of information about EPM.

EPM is a common neurological disease seen throughout the United States, and is strongly suspected in horses that present with clinical signs of neurological disease and a positive Sarcocystis neurona antibody response in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). However, exposure to S. neurona does not necessarily mean that the clinical signs of disease will occur. It’s impossible to predict which horses may display neurological signs of the disease based simply on the presence of serum antibodies, which only indicates that the horse was exposed to S. neurona.

Additional EPM testing options available:

• CSF Index (Serum and CSF)
• Cell Count and Differential (CSF)
• EPM Profile I by Western Blot (Serum and CSF)
• EPM Profile II by WB and PCR (CSF)
• EPM Profile III by WB (serum and CSF) and PCR (CSF)

Understanding Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM)—Risk factors and signs

Know the risk factors for EPM¹

• Exposure to any site where EPM has been detected previously
• Grazing pastures and/or feed accessible to other wildlife (especially opossums)
• Excessive heat that may weaken the immune system
• Age—especially horses one to five years of age
• Stressful events, including trailering, breeding, showing, selling, training, foaling and nursing

 
Know the signs of EPM

Presenting clinical signs can be quite variable because they’re related to where lesions occur in the central nervous system. The most common clinical signs for EPM at presentation include asymmetric ataxia and focal muscle atrophy in the gluteal, or rump, area (most frequently). Other commonly observed clinical signs include:

• Asymmetrical ataxia
• Lack of coordination that worsens when the head is elevated
• Stiff, stilted movements
• Muscle deterioration (hindquarters, muscles of the face or front limbs)
• Difficulty swallowing or loss of appetite
• Facial muscular paralysis or loss of sensation
• Stumbling
• Seizure
• Change in personality
• Fatigue or narcolepsy
• Head tilt with poor balance
• Abnormal sweat patterns (focal sweating)
• Head shaking

Testing recommendations

Our Western Blot (WB) Test detects S. neurona-specific IgG.

• The presence of S. neurona-specific IgG in serum indicates exposure to this parasite, but not necessarily disease.

• In the presence of neurologic signs, the presence of S. neurona-specific IgG in cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) indicates active disease.

The EPM Profile 1 is recommended on a horse exhibiting neurologic signs.

Sample requirements

Refer to our Sample Submission Instructions to view the different sample collection guidelines for each type of test

Turnaround times

The IDEXX EPM testing is performed daily, Monday–Friday.
Western blot results are available within 24 hours if the sample is received by noon.

PCR methods are more rapid and sensitive than culture, and can identify virulent R. equi

Horses are unique in that the R. equi strains which cause disease almost all contain a plasmid that carries a virulence gene. VapA, whose function is not well understood, is necessary for clinical disease.

The detection of R. equi by standard bacterial culture can be difficult if the horse has received antibiotic therapy. Further, culture cannot identify strains that carry the virulence plasmid. PCR methods are not only more rapid and sensitive than culture, but also can identify virulent R. equi.

Sample requirements

• Recommended specimen is at least 5 mL of tracheal wash fluid placed in a sterile tube without preservatives.
• Ship with ice pack within 24 hours of collection if possible. If stored, refrigerate at 4°C but do not freeze.

 
Turnaround times

Test is performed daily, Monday–Friday, with results available within 48 hours.

Performed on serum, this test provides antibody levels as titers in one of five different categories:

• Negative
• Weak positive
• Moderate positive
• High positive
• Very high positive

 
This test is very useful if you suspect:

• Recent infections or recent vaccinations
• The need for booster vaccinations
• Purpura hemorrhagica
• Metastatic abscesses (“bastard strangles”)
• Streptococcal myositis

 
Sample requirements

1 mL of serum.

 
Turnaround time

Results are available in 2–5 working days.

Sample requirements

• Acceptable specimens include:
• Fecal swabs (in transport media without charcoal) with ice packs
• Fecal samples (1–5 grams in sterile containers) with ice packs
• Environmental swabs or wipes (in sterile containers containing peptone broth to cover, but not incubated)
• Ship sample within 24 hours of collection.

 
Turnaround times

The IDEXX Salmonella RealPCR and Culture ID Test is performed daily, Monday–Friday.

• PCR results are available within 24 hours if the sample is received by 5:00 p.m.
• PCR results for specimens received on Friday are available Monday.
• Culture identification results are available within 72 hours of sample receipt.