Isothermal Nucleic Acid Amplification Technologies for the Detection of Equine Viral Pathogens.
Authors: Knox Alexandra, Beddoe Travis
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Isothermal Nucleic Acid Amplification Technologies for Equine Viral Diagnosis Rapid, reliable diagnosis of equine viral diseases remains critical for the global horse industry, which generates approximately USD $300 billion annually yet faces continuous biosecurity threats from the international movement of horses and the potential for zoonotic disease transmission to humans. Knox and Beddoe reviewed emerging isothermal nucleic acid amplification technologies—principally loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and insulated isothermal polymerase chain reaction (iiPCR)—as alternatives to conventional serological and molecular diagnostic methods that require expensive laboratory equipment, trained personnel, and extended processing times. These isothermal platforms can deliver diagnostic results within one hour without the infrastructure demands of traditional PCR, making them viable for field deployment and resource-limited laboratory settings. The authors synthesised evidence on the current applicability of these technologies for detecting equine viruses of epidemiological and zoonotic significance, highlighting their potential to enable earlier intervention, improved biosecurity protocols, and better disease management across various equine settings. For practitioners seeking rapid point-of-care diagnostics—whether in competition yards, breeding facilities, or remote locations—isothermal amplification technologies represent a meaningful shift towards faster decision-making without sacrificing diagnostic accuracy, though standardisation and further validation of these assays remain ongoing considerations for widespread adoption.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Rapid field-deployable diagnostic tests using isothermal amplification could allow earlier detection of viral outbreaks in horses, enabling faster quarantine and biosecurity responses to prevent large epidemics.
- •These technologies may be particularly valuable for smaller operations or facilities with limited laboratory infrastructure and budgets, democratizing access to molecular diagnostics.
- •Early diagnosis of zoonotic equine viruses could reduce human health risks by facilitating faster identification and isolation of infected horses.
Key Findings
- •Isothermal nucleic acid amplification technologies such as LAMP and iiPCR enable rapid diagnosis of equine viruses within one hour without requiring expensive equipment or highly trained personnel.
- •Current serological and molecular diagnostic methods are not suitable for field deployment or resource-limited laboratory settings due to infrastructure and expertise requirements.
- •Isothermal amplification technologies show potential for in-field deployment to enable early diagnosis of equine viral diseases, supporting improved management, treatment, and biosecurity strategies.