1

Speaker(s)：

Li-Hsuan Chen

Topic

Comparison and application of three molecular tests for the detection of influenza A with clade 2.3.4.4 highly pathogenic influenza A (H5N2) viruses

Abstract

In order to evaluate the applicability of different molecular tests for the diagnosis of influenza A viruses, RT-PCR, nested RT-PCR, and real-time RT-PCR were used to test the RNA extracted from different dilutions of H5N2 clade 2.3.4.4 HPAI viruses isolated from outbreak in 2015. Among the three methods, the detection limit of real-time RT-PCR was best, at 100.5 EID50. The RT-PCR detection limit was the worst, but still in the range between 103.5 and 102.5 EID50. Therefore, according to the advantages, disadvantages and the detection limits of different methods, suitable tests used in the diagnosis should be dependent upon the type of submitted samples and the purposes of the experiment.

2

Speaker(s)：

Yu-Pin Liu

Topic

A Molecular Epidemiological Study of Newcastle Disease Viruses in Taiwan

Abstract

In order to understand the molecular epidemiology of Newcastle disease virus in poultry and wild birds in Taiwan, 22 Newcastle disease virus (NDV) isolates collected from 2012 to 2016 were chosen for sequence analysis. Phylogenetic analysis of the variable region of the F gene indicated that there are at least five genotypes of NDV circulating in domestic poultry and wild birds. In total, 15 isolates were found to belong to class II NDVs, with 5 clustering as genotype I, 4 as genotype II, 2 (isolated from pigeons) as genotype VI, and 4 as genotype VIIe; the remaining 7 isolates clustered into class I NDV. At the F0 cleavage site, the class I genotypes I, II, VI, VII and the class II isolates had the sequence motifs of E-Q/R-Q-E-R↓L, G-K/E-Q-G-R↓L, G-R-Q-G-R↓L, R-R-Q-K-R↓F, and R-R-K-K-R↓F respectively. Furthermore, our results suggest that genotype VIIe NDV is still the most prevalent and virulent strain circulating among chicken farms in Taiwan, and that the wild bird population carries low virulence NDV genotypes due to regular genetic divergence and therefore may act as an important natural host reservoir of NDV.

3

Speaker(s)：

Biology Division

Chien-Chih Wu

Topic

Detection of organophosphate and carbamate pesticides in suspected cases of animal poisoning from 2013 to 2015

Abstract

A total of 198 suspected cases of animal poisoning were submitted to our institute from 2013 to 2015, and case samples were subjected to analysis for organophosphate and carbamate pesticides, by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry(GC/MSD) and high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC), respectively. Carbamate pesticides were detected in 84 cases and organophosphate pesticides were found in 2 cases. Carbofuran was the main pesticide and identified in 50 cases. Other dominant compounds detected in other cases included methomyl in 30 cases, methomyl with carbofuran in 4 cases, and phorate in 2 cases. Dogs were the predominant(68.60%, 59 out of 86 cases) animal species involved in the poisoning cases with other cases involving birds(16), cats(9), fish(1) and unknown(1).