Medigenomix is one of the most experienced and acknowledged laboratories for Scrapie Genotyping in Germany. We are certified according to ISO EN 9001: 2000 and we successfully took part in the interlaboratory tests carried out by the German Federal Ministry of Consumer Protection, Feeding, and Agriculture (BMVEL) and the Federal Research Institution (FAL) and we are proud to keep several breeder associations under contract. We can analyse up to 5000 sheep weekly.

Special benefits of our Direct Sequencing Approach:
By our method of direct DNA sequencing we can detect all known and even new mutations with high reliability. Unlike other, indirect methods, we can detect the rare K (Lys) variant in codon 171 without extra processing and extra costs. Similarly our results are not biassed by known mutations in the codons 168 and 175. So direct sequencing is the most reliable and cost effective method for scrapie genotyping. No extra charge for analysing rare and new mutations!

Background:
With reference to the European Commission’s decision of February 13, 2003, each Member State is going to put into place a breeding programme to select for resistance to TSE in each of its sheep breeds.
To this day there is no method using living sheep to ensure whether one had been in contact with the Scrapie pathogen or not. By the genetic test of Scrapie Genotyping one can gauge however the resistance of the sheep against the disease after contact with the pathogen. The animals are classified in different genotype classes (e.g. in Germany: G1 – G5) and based on this classification they can be selected for breeding to increase TSE resistance in the population. Scrapie Genotyping is also important for checking healthy animals after having contact with infected sheep.

Scientific basis:
Decisive for the risk classification are the amino acids at three particular positions in the prion protein, which can be:

By Scrapie Genotyping all variants (mutations) in the codons for these amino acids at position 136, 154, and 171 are determined and the genotypes are classified, e.g. according to the recommendation of the project group of the German Society of Breeding (DGfZ):

Genotype class	Genotype
G1	ARR/ARR
G2	ARR/AHQ, ARR/ARH, ARR/ARQ
G3	AHQ/AHQ, AHQ/ARH, AHQ/ARQ, ARH/ARH, ARH/ARQ, ARQ/ARQ
G4	ARR/VRQ
G5	AHQ/VRQ, ARH/VRQ, ARQ/VRQ, VRQ/VRQ

Which samples are needed?
We accept EDTA blood (1 - 2 ml), blood spots on filter paper or tissue samples from punched ear cartilage.

Duration of examination and prices:
The results are available within two weeks.
For prices please contact us.
No extra charge for analysis of the K-variant in Codon 171 and further mutations in the codons 168 und 175!

Eurofins Medigenomix GmbH
Anzinger Str. 7a, D-85560 Ebersberg, Germany
Phone: ++49 (0)8092 / 8289-200, Fax: -201
genotyping@medigenomix.de
Page last modífied: 27.01.2010