Rabies. Consultation: Cat which bite in a veterinary clinic while trying to hold it and have been sacrificed. Type of sample for analysis of rabies and conservation?.
They consult us because a cat bit at a veterinary clinic to try to hold it and the owner decides to sacrifice, having kept refrigerated for 4 days.
In consultation, we wonder if they should send the animal's head or brain extracted. In this connection, it is preferable to receive the extracted brain skull and introduced into a composite equally sterile water and glycerol in a sterile polypropylene container (non - rigid plastic, flexible) solution, but never glass, avoid breakage during transport. If you do not have this type of container can be purchased at pharmacies.
The sample is recommended to send chilled within a box of expanded polystyrene ( "Styrofoam") with some frozen to maintain cooling during transport pack. If it were possible to refrigerated shipping, it can also be sent at room temperature.
Usually, any brain sample received for diagnostic testing of rabies in a teether animal, perform at least two laboratory tests of the three listed below: a) intracerebral inoculation in mice, to detect the presence in the sample of viable virus ; b) Direct immunofluorescence with impressions of brain for the presence of rabies virus antigen in cells of the central nervous system; c) RT-PCR to detect genome of rabies virus in the central nervous system. Performing at least two diagnostic tests, it is to avoid making a misdiagnosis if a false negative result in a test obtuviese.
The sample, while being sent to the laboratory, should be retained, if short time (24 to 48 hours) cooled, but if prolonged shelf life , must be kept frozen at -20. This is because the nervous tissue decomposes quickly, and could hinder immunofluorescence test, or test intracerebral inoculation in mice.
When they have the sample, they can send it to our lab with a courier, or call for it delivered.