National reference laboratory for foot-and-mouth disease and vesicular diseases of animals
The national reference laboratory conducts comprehensive laboratory diagnoses of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), swine vesicular disease (SVD) and vesicular stomatitis (VS), including the differential diagnosis.
The NRL for foot-and-mouth disease and vesicular diseases of animals was established in 1995 at SVI Prague, when the construction of the BSL-3 laboratory was completed. From 1995 to 2016, the laboratory had live strains of individual serotypes of the FMD virus (O, A, C, SAT1, SAT2, SAT3, Asia 1), which allowed for the implementation of virus-neutralisation tests to demonstrate antibodies against the disease. In this period, the lab also did in vitro cultivation of the virus for demonstrating it in suspected materials. As part of biological risk reduction, it was decided in 2016 to dispose of all living strains of the virus and the discontinuation of providing virus-neutralisation tests as well as isolation of the virus on cell lines.
Serological diagnosis of the FMD virus is safeguarded through the detection of antibodies against all FMD serotypes using ELISA tests. Direct evidence of the FMD virus is provided through molecular biology methods (real-time RT-PCR). Within its scope, the NRL co-ordinates the diagnosis of swine vesicular disease in other laboratories – Jihlava and Olomouc SVIs. Each year the NRL participates in international comparative tests, organised by EURL for FMDSLAK, aimed at demonstrating the FMD/VDS antibodies and viruses. The lab also prepares transportation buffers for the diagnosis of foot-and-mouth disease. The quality control system, within which we operate, is consistent with CSN EN ISO/IEC 17025.
