Microbiology

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Samples should be taken:

  • from living or recently dead animals,
  • from the affected site(s) as early as possible following the onset of clinical signs,
  • from the edge of the lesion and include some macroscopically normal tissue,
  • as aseptically as possible,
  • before the administration of any form of treatment.

    All specimens should be accompanied by a complete case history including a tentative diagnosis.

AHL Laboratory Submission form (PDF 183Kb) 

Terrestrial Animals

 
Mi​​crobiology tests
 
                   
Sample type
 
Minimum Sample required
 
Special needs/comments
Routine culture ​ ​ ​ ​Tissue4 cm3Separate sterile containers
Swab Taken from the active margin of lesion, submitted in transport medium.
Faeces10 gIn leak-proof container
Urine10 mlMid-stream (preferred) urine collected aseptically into a sterile container
Hair/wool Hair plucked from the active margin of lesion and deep skin scraping in a sterile container.

Mastitis culture and sensitivity

Milk

10 ml

Fresh, aseptically collected milk samples stored between 2 and 8°C. Freeze if delayed for more than 48 hours. For details-www.dairyaustralia.com.au

Note: Mycoplasma bovis testing is now undertaken in the Molecular Biology laboratory by direct PCR

Abortion investigation from tissuesFoetal abomasal fluid, lung and placenta separate sterile containers
Footrot

Swab of lesion

Note: Whole feet may also be submitted

6 samples per mob

AHL LabFact footrot culture for sheep (PDF 109Kb)

AHL LabFact Footrot (PDF 89Kb)

Samples in footrot transport media (available from AHL).

Johne's disease faecal cultureFaeces10 gIn leak-proof container
(This test is not conducted at the AHL. Samples are sent to another laboratory)
Johne's disease pooled faecal culturePooled faeces from a maximum of 50 sheep from mob 1 pellet per animalContact laboratory for sample collection instructions
(This test is not conducted at the AHL. Samples are sent to another laboratory)
Infertility investigationBovine preputial washing /  vaginal mucous

AHL LabFact Bovine Infertility Investigation (PDF 185Kb)

Please contact the laboratory for sampling equipment and reagents.

​Salmonella serotyping​Isolate

​On request, isolated Salmonella sp. can be forwarded to a reference laboratory for serotyping and/or phage typing.

Surchages will apply. Please contact the laboratory for costings

​Semen analysis​Semen​Collected into a sterile container
Bee diseases (AFB, EFB, chalk brood) ​Brood combAffected brood comb with dead larvae
Honey for AFB50 mlStore at room temperature.

Contact

Animal Health Laboratory - Specimen Reception

(Postal) PO Box 46,
KINGS MEADOWS TAS 7249,
(Delivery) 165 Westbury Road,
PROSPECT, TAS, 7250.
Phone: 03 6777 2111
Website: http://www.nre.tas.gov.au/AHLabs