Objective:
The objective of this collaboration is to contribute to the validation of new PCR methods developed by the PIADC. In cooperation with PIADC, ICAB will test samples from cattle and swine acquired from multiple sources across the diversity of geographic conditions in Texas representing a relatively diverse and large cohort of presumable y negative animals. In addition, ICAB will work with its national collaborators in one or more countries where foot and mouth disease is present to contribute to the validation of the new PCR methods with where both positive and negative samples are involved. ICAB will collaborate with PIADC and its other collaborators to develop rapid tests for the Mycoplasma sp responsible for contagious bovine pleuropneumonia.

Approach:
Evaluation of the PIADC Real Time PCR Diagnostic Test for Foot & Mouth Disease and Classical Swine Fever in Negative U.S. Livestock Populations. The objective of these studies is to run the PCR diagnostic test for FMD and CSF against a wide variety of samples derived from geographically dispersed presumably normal animals and from samples sent to the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory where presumptive and definitive diagnostic tests have identified naturally occurring disease presenting with similar clinical symptoms. In the case of cattle tested for FMD, we will also run tests on the same samples for vesicular stomatitis and bovine viral diarrhea, as availability of reagents permit. For FMD in swine, we will also run test for swine vesicular disease, vesicular stomatitis and swine calicivirus (vesicular exanthema) as availability of reagents permits.