Published papers describing the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assays used by the Molecular Diagnostic Unit, Langford Veterinary Services
The quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) assays used by the Molecular Diagnostic Unit, Langford Veterinary Services to detect Chlamydophila felis, feline herpesvirus, feline haemoplasma, canine haemoplasma, feline immunodeficiency virus, feline leukaemia virus and feline polycystic kidney disease have all arisen from research projects undertaken at, or in collaboration with the Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, University of Bristol. These assays have been extensively validated and published in peer reviewed academic journals. Below is a selection of papers relating to these assays.
Canine haemoplasma
Barker E.N., Tasker S., Day M.J., Warman S.M., Woolley K., Birtles R., Georges K., Ezeokoli C.D., Newaj-Fyzul A., Campbell M., Sparagano O., Cleaveland S. and Helps C.R.(2010). Development and use of real-time PCR to detect and quantify Mycoplasma haemocanis and 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum' in dogs. Vet. Micro. 140, 167-170.
Roura X., Peters I.R., Altet L., Tabar M-D., Barker E.N., Planellas M., Helps C.R., Francino O., Shaw S.E. and Tasker S. (2010). Prevalence of hemotropic mycoplasmas in healthy and unhealthy cats and dogs in Spain. Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation. 22, 270-274.
Hulme-Moir K.L., Barker E.N., Stonelake A., Helps C.R. and Tasker S. (2010). Use of real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction to monitor antibiotic therapy in a dog with naturally acquired Mycoplasma haemocanis infection. Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation. 22, 582-587.
Warman S.M., Helps C.R., Barker E.N., Day S., Sturgess K., Day M.J. and Tasker S. (2010). Haemoplasma infection is not a common cause of canine immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia in the UK. J. Small Animal Practice. 51, 534-539.
Chlamydophila felis
Helps C., Reeves N., Tasker S. and Harbour D. (2001). Use of real-time quantitative PCR to detect Chlamydophila felis infection. Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 39, 2675-2676.
Helps C.R., Reeves N. A., Egan K., Howard P. and Harbour D.A. (2003). Detection of Chlamydophila felis and feline herpesvirus by multiplex real-time PCR. Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 41, 2734-2736.
Dean R., Harley R., Helps C., Caney S. and Gruffydd-Jones T. (2005). Response of Chlamydophila felis infection to doxycycline treatment using quantitative real-time PCR. Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 43, 1858-1864.
Helps C.R., Lait P., Damhuis A., Björnehammar U., Bolta D., Brovida C., Chabanne L., Egberink H., Ferrand G., Fontbonne A., Grazia Pennisi M., Gruffydd-Jones T., Gunn-Moore D., Hartmann K., Lutz H., Malandain E., Möstl K., Stengel C., Harbour D.A. and Graat E.A.M. (2005). Factors associated with upper respiratory tract disease caused by FHV, FCV, C. felis and B. bronchiseptica in cats - experience from 218 European catteries. The Veterinary Record. 156, 669-673.
Harley R., Herring A., Egan K., Howard P., Gruffydd-Jones T.J., Azuma Y., Shira M. and Helps C.R. (2007). Molecular characterisation of 12 Chlamydophila felis polymorphic membrane protein genes. Veterinary Microbiology. 124, 230-238.
Hartmann A., Helps C.R., Lappin M., Werckenthin C. and Hartmann K. (2008). Efficacy of pradofloxacin in cats with feline upper respiratory tract disease due to Chlamydophila felis or Mycoplasma infections. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. 22, 44-52.
Harley R., Cantanese B. and Helps C.R. (2010). Polymorphic membrane proteins 1 and 7 from Chlamydophila felis are significant immunodominant proteins. Veterinary Microbiology. 144, 415-421.
Harley R., Day S., Di Rocco C. and Helps C. (2010). The Chlamydophila felis plasmid is highly conserved. Vet. Microbiol. 146, 172-174.
Feline Bordetella bronchiseptica
Helps C.R., Lait P., Damhuis A., Björnehammar U., Bolta D., Brovida C., Chabanne L., Egberink H., Ferrand G., Fontbonne A., Grazia Pennisi M., Gruffydd-Jones T., Gunn-Moore D., Hartmann K., Lutz H., Malandain E., Möstl K., Stengel C., Harbour D.A. and Graat E.A.M. (2005). Factors associated with upper respiratory tract disease caused by FHV, FCV, C. felis and B. bronchiseptica in cats - experience from 218 European catteries. The Veterinary Record. 156, 669-673.
Feline Calicivirus
Helps C.R., Lait P., Damhuis A., Björnehammar U., Bolta D., Brovida C., Chabanne L., Egberink H., Ferrand G., Fontbonne A., Grazia Pennisi M., Gruffydd-Jones T., Gunn-Moore D., Hartmann K., Lutz H., Malandain E., Möstl K., Stengel C., Harbour D.A. and Graat E.A.M. (2005). Factors associated with upper respiratory tract disease caused by FHV, FCV, C. felis and B. bronchiseptica in cats - experience from 218 European catteries. The Veterinary Record. 156, 669-673.
Feline haemoplasma
Tasker S., Helps C. R., Belford C. J., Birtles R. J., Day M. J., Sparkes A. H., Gruffydd-Jones T. J. and Harbour D. A. (2001). 16S rDNA comparison demonstrates near identity between an United Kingdom Haemobartonella felis strain and the American California strain. Veterinary Microbiology. 81, 73-78.
Tasker S and Lappin MR. (2002) Haemobartonella felis: recent developments in diagnosis and treatment. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery. 4, 3-11.
Tasker S., Helps C. R., Day M. J., Gruffydd-Jones T. J. and Harbour D. A. (2003). Use of Real-Time PCR to detect and quantify Mycoplasma haemofelis and ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum’ infection. Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 41, 439-441.
Tasker S., Binns S. H., Day M. J., Gruffydd-Jones T. J., Harbour D. A., Helps C. R., Jensen W. A., Olver C. S. and Lappin M. R. (2003). Use of a polymerase chain reaction assay to assess prevalence of 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemofelis' and 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum' in Great Britain and assessment of risk factors for infection. Veterinary Record. 152, 193-198.
Tasker S., Helps C.R., Day M.J., Harbour D.A., Shaw S.E., Harrus S., Baneth G., Lobetti R.G., Malik R., Beaufils J.P., Belford C.R. and Gruffydd-Jones T.J. (2003). Phylogenetic analysis of haemoplasma species - an international study. Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 41, 3877-3880.
Tasker S., Helps C.R., Day M.J., Harbour D.A., Gruffydd-Jones T.J. and Lappin M.R. (2004). Use of a Taqman PCR to Determine the Response of Mycoplasma haemofelis Infection to Antibiotic Treatment. Journal of Microbiological Methods 56, 63-71.
Braddock JA, Tasker S and Malik R. (2004) The Use of PCR in the Diagnosis and Monitoring of Mycoplasma haemofelis copy number in a naturally-infected cat. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery. 6, 161-165.
Lobetti RG and Tasker S. (2004) Diagnosis of feline haemoplasma infection using a real-time PCR assay. Journal of the South African Veterinary Association. 75, 94-99.
Kenny MJ, Shaw SE, Beugnet F and Tasker S. (2004) Demonstration of Two Distinct Haemotropic Mycoplasmas in French Dogs. Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 42, 5397-5399.
Tasker S., Braddock J.A., Baral R., Helps C.R., Day M.J., Gruffydd-Jones T.J. and Malik R. (2004). Diagnosis of Feline Haemoplasma infection in Australian cats using a real-time PCR assay. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery. 6, 345-354.
Willi B, Boretti FS, Cattori V, Tasker S, Meli ML, Reusch C, Lutz H and Hofmann-Lehmann RH. (2005) Identification, molecular characterization and experimental transmission of a new hemoplasma isolate from a cat with hemolytic anemia in Switzerland. Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 43, 2581-2585.
Willi B, Boretti FS, Baumgartner C, Tasker S, Wenger B, Cattori V, Meli ML, Reusch C, Lutz H and Hofmann-Lehmann RH. (2006) Prevalence, risk factor analysis and follow up of infections with the three feline haemoplasma species in cats in Switzerland. Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 44, 961-969.
Gary AT, Richmond HL, Tasker S, Hackett TB and Lappin MR. (2006) Survival of Mycoplasma haemofelis and ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum’ in blood of cats used for transfusions. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery. 8, 321-326.
Willi B, Tasker S, Boretti F.S, Doherr M.D, Cattori V, Meli M L, Lobetti R.G. Malik R. Reusch C.E, Lutz H and Hofmann-Lehmann R. (2006) Phylogenetic analysis of ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis’ isolates from pet cats in the UK, Australia and South Africa, with analysis of risk factors for infection. Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 44(12), 4430-4435.
Tasker S, Caney S.M.A., Day M.J., Dean R.J., Helps C.R., Knowles T.G., Lait P.J.P., Pinches M.D.G. and Gruffydd-Jones T.J. (2006). Effect of chronic feline immunodeficiency virus infection, and efficacy of marbofloxacin treatment, on 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum' infection. Microbes and Infection. 8, 653-661.
Tasker S, Caney S.M.A., Day M.J., Dean R.J., Helps C.R., Knowles T.G., Lait P.J.P., Pinches M.D.G. and Gruffydd-Jones T.J. (2006). Effect of chronic FIV infection, and efficacy of marbofloxacin treatment, on Mycoplasma haemofelis infection. Veterinary Microbiology. 117, 169-179.
Tasker S. (2006) Current concepts in feline haemobartonellosis. In Practice. 28, 136-141.
Peters I.R., Helps C.R., Willi B., Hofmann-Lehmann R. and Tasker S. (2007). The prevalence of three species of feline haemoplasmas in samples submitted to a diagnostic service as determined by three novel real-time duplex PCR assays. Veterinary Microbiology. 126, 142-150.
Dean R., Helps C.R., Gruffydd-Jones T.J. and Tasker S. (2008). Use of real-time PCR to detect Mycoplasma haemofelis & ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum’ in the saliva and salivary glands of haemoplasma-infected cats. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery. 10, 413-417.
Peters I.R., Helps C.R., McAuliffe L., Neimark H., Lappin M.R., Gruffydd-Jones T.J., Day M.J., Hoelzle L.E., Willi B., Meli M., Hofmann-Lehmann R. and Tasker S. (2008). RNaseP RNA gene (rnpB) phylogeny of Haemoplasmas and other Mycoplasma species. J. Clin. Micro. 46, 1873-1877.
Tasker S., Peters I.R., Papasoulotis K., Cue S.M., Willi B., Hofmann-Lehmann R., Gruffydd-Jones T.J., Knowles T.G., Day M.J. and Helps C.R. (2009). Description of outcomes of experimental infection with feline haemoplasmas: copy numbers, haematology, Coombs' testing and blood glucose concentrations. Vet. Micro. 139, 323-332.
Maher I., Tasker S., Helps C.R. and Papasouliotis K. (2010). PCR survey of haemoplasmas in cats living in Greece. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery. 12, 601-605.
Barker E.N., Helps C.R., Peters I.R., Darby A.C., Radford A.D. and Tasker S. (2011). Complete Genome Sequence of Mycoplasma haemofelis, a Hemotropic Mycoplasma. Journal of Bacteriology. 193, 2060-2061.
Barker E.N., Helps C.R., Neimark H., Peters I.R., Peters W. and Tasker S. (2011). A novel haemoplasma species identified in archived primate blood smears. Vet. Microbiol. 149, 478-481.
Feline herpesvirus
Helps C.R., Reeves N. A., Egan K., Howard P. and Harbour D.A. (2003). Detection of Chlamydophila felis and feline herpesvirus by multiplex real-time PCR. Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 41, 2734-2736.
Helps C.R., Lait P., Damhuis A., Björnehammar U., Bolta D., Brovida C., Chabanne L., Egberink H., Ferrand G., Fontbonne A., Grazia Pennisi M., Gruffydd-Jones T., Gunn-Moore D., Hartmann K., Lutz H., Malandain E., Möstl K., Stengel C., Harbour D.A. and Graat E.A.M. (2005). Factors associated with upper respiratory tract disease caused by FHV, FCV, C. felis and B. bronchiseptica in cats - experience from 218 European catteries. The Veterinary Record. 156, 669-673.
Feline immunodeficiency virus
Pinches M.D.G., Diesel G., Helps C.R., Tasker S., Egan K. and Gruffydd-Jones T.J. (2006). An update on in practice FIV and FeLV screening test performance using a bayesian statistical approach. Veterinary Clinical Pathology. 36, 141-147.
Feline leukaemia virus
Pinches M.D.G., Helps C.R., Gruffydd-Jones T.J., Egan K., Jarrett O. and Tasker S. (2006). Diagnosis of feline leukaemia virus infection by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery. 9, 8-13.
Pinches M.D.G., Diesel G., Helps C.R., Tasker S., Egan K. and Gruffydd-Jones T.J. (2006). An update on in practice FIV and FeLV screening test performance using a bayesian statistical approach. Veterinary Clinical Pathology. 36, 141-147.
Feline polycystic kidney disease
Helps C.R., Tasker S., Barr F.J., Wills S.J. and Gruffydd-Jones T.J. (2007). Detection of the single nucleotide polymorphism causing feline autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease in Persians from the UK using a novel real-time PCR assay. Molecular and Cellular Probes. 21, 31-34.
Helps C.R., Tasker, S. and Harley R. (2007). Correlation of the feline PKD 1 genetic mutation with cases of PKD diagnosed by pathological examination. Experimental and Molecular Pathology. 83, 264-268.
Wills S.J., Barrett E.L, Barr F.J., Bradley K.J., Helps C.R., Cannon M.J. and Gruffydd-Jones T.J. (2009). Evaluation of the repeatability of ultrasound scanning for the detection of feline polycystic kidney disease. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery. 11(12), 993-996.