Science Applications International Corporation

1 article published in JoVE

• Immunology and Infection

  
  Rapid Diagnosis of Avian Influenza Virus in Wild Birds: Use of a Portable rRT-PCR and Freeze-dried Reagents in the Field John Y. Takekawa¹, Nichola J. Hill^1,2, Annie K. Schultz¹, Samuel A. Iverson¹, Carol J. Cardona^3,4, Walter M. Boyce², Joseph P. Dudley^{5 1}USGS Western Ecological Research Center, ²Wildlife Health Center, University of California, Davis, ³Department of Population Health and Reproduction, University of California, Davis, ⁴Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota, ⁵Science Applications International Corporation This study describes diagnosis of avian influenza in wild birds using a portable rRT-PCR system. The method takes advantage of freeze-dried reagents to screen wild birds in a non-laboratory setting, typical of an outbreak scenario. Use of molecular tools provides accurate and sensitive alternatives for rapid diagnosis.