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Sysmex Corporation (HQ: Kobe, Japan; President: Hisashi Ietsugu) has established technology for detection of influenza viruses in chickens within about 15 minutes.
Because it applies technology utilized in Poctem Influenza A/B, the kit used by general practitioners and clinics for rapid diagnosis of influenza in human beings, the technology enables detection of influenza viruses through a simple procedure.
Effective 1 April 2008, Sysmex became the first Japanese company to obtain permission from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries for production and sale as technology for rapid examination of chickens for influenza viruses. It is now doing groundwork for preparing for market introduction.
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Influenza viruses infecting chicken has two major kinds: the highly pathogenic variety, which can cause death within a short time, and mildly pathogenic variety, which causes phenomena such as a decline in egg-laying productivity, diarrhea, and neurosis.
The highly pathogenic influenza viruses (e.g., H5 and H7 subtypes) are behind the infection of entire flocks at chicken farms, once became a social issue in Japan. There are reports that mass infection with a highly pathogenic virus can kill all (100 percent) of the chickens in the space of four or five days. In some areas, authorities have undertaken a massive disposal of entire flocks to prevent the infection from spreading further.
Prevention of loss associated with the spread of infection and massive disposal requires prompt determination of whether or not chickens are infected with the virus, followed by the proper action in response. It has nevertheless been difficult to make rapid determinations, because of the limited circle of sites equipped with the facilities and technology needed for such determinations, and the time required to make them.
The newly established technology applies that utilized in "POCTEM Influenza A/B", Sysmex's kit for swift diagnosis of human infection with influenza. As the name suggests, the kit also makes it possible to determine whether the virus infecting the patient is of the A or B type. It is utilized mainly by general practitioners and clinics.
The kit technology enables simple and rapid detection of chicken infection with influenza A viruses. To allow utilization of swabs from chicken cloacae and tracheae as samples, Sysmex made technical improvements to curtail the action of impeding substances in them and thereby pave the way for use of the kit on chicken farms.
This is the first test kit in Japan to obtain the permission of the aforesaid Ministry for production and sale for detection chicken infection with influenza A viruses within about 15 minutes(swabs from chicken cloacae and tracheae as samples). Sysmex is going to take other steps needed for market introduction.
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