News & Updates

News

Update to UMN VDL Summary Result Reporting Format

On January 3rd, 2023 there will be a change to the display formatting of Summary results on the University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Results Access web portal and in nightly Summary emails

Test Updates

Avian Metapneumovirus (aMPV) ELISA Subgroups A, B and C ELISA

Avian Metapneumovirus (aMPV) ELISA Subgroup A,B,C  is now the default aMPV ELISA test at the Minnesota Poultry Testing Laboratory (MPTL).  This is replacing the UMN  Avian Metapneumovirus (aMPV) ELISA Subgroup C test.  The  Avian Metapneumovirus (aMPV) ELISA Subgroup C test can still be requested by noting "Subgroup C ELISA only" on the submission form, or by contacting the lab directly.

Avian Metapneumovirus (aMPV) Real-Time PCR Subgroups A, B and C

Avian Metapneumovirus (aMPV) Real-Time PCR Subgroups A, B and C is now the default aMPV PCR test at the Minnesota Poultry Testing Laboratory ( MPTL).    Until recently the United States (US) had only identified and confirmed aMPV Subgroup C.  Since January 2024,  the National Veterinary Services Laboratory has confirmed  both Subgroups A and B in the US.   In response to the recent confirmation of Subgroups A and B,  MPTL has updated its Real-Time PCR test to include all three subgroups.  Individual results will be reported for each A, B, and C.

Brucella abortus BAPA

The official screening test in swine and cattle (including Cervids and Camelids) for brucellosis conducted at the VDL is the Buffered Acidified Plate Antigen (BAPA) test. The Card test is used specifically to fulfill testing requirements for exports and/or show pigs testing.

Actinobacillus suis (A. suis) Real time PCR

The Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory is returning the Actinobacillus suis (A. suis) PCR as a test option for a variety of sample types. An improved real time PCR test was developed for the detection of A. suis from porcine oral fluids, lung, joint, joint swabs, pooled tissues, pleura, pericardium, peritoneum, tonsil scrapings, biopsies, nasal swabs, oropharyngeal swabs, tonsil swabs, bone swabs, serum, bacterial isolates, fetal tissues, and subcutaneous skin swabs (ear/other skin lesions).  The test will be run weekly on Monday at a cost of $27.00. As with most tests, samples should be at the lab by noon the day before the test is scheduled to run ( by noon Friday for the A.suis PCR). Off schedule/emergency testing may be possible after consultation with a food animal diagnostician.
 

The A. suis primers and probe target the 23S ribosomal gene and are adapted from the reference article Kariyawasam, Subhashinie, et al.  “Development of a Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Assay for Detection of Actinobacillus Suis in Porcine Lung.”  Updates were made to modernize the enzyme kit used in the assay as well as the probe prior to the start of validation.  The sequence of the primers and probe remained the same as the publication.  The A. suis PCR test has a detection limit of 50 copies/reaction.   The assay also has an exogenous internal control added during extraction.

Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae ELISA (IDVet)

Starting Aug 1, 2023, VDL will offer a new ELISA test for antibodies to Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae in serum samples of pigs. The test is ID Screen Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae available from ID Vet, France.


This test will replace the Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae Civtest ELISA.  

The price of the test will be $10.40 per sample and will be run every week on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.