Croatian National Reference Laboratory for Rabies

♦ 03 April 2015 ♦

The Laboratory for Rabies is one of the three laboratories in the department of virology at Croatian Veterinary Institute. Since 2011 Laboratory is recognized as a National Reference Laboratory for Rabies. The laboratory is also a EU approved laboratory for serological testing regarding rabies in dogs, cats and ferrets in the frame of pets travel. Main laboratory routine activities are connected with rabies surveillance and rabies monitoring programs. Monitoring program is conducted as a part of oral vaccination campaigns which has been started in 2011. During 2014 around 1000 samples have been tested as a part of surveillance program and around 3000 samples as part of monitoring program. The last rabies positive case has been recorded in February 2014.
 

Methods

In laboratory the following methods are used:

o Fluorescence antibody test (FAT),
o Fluorescence virus neutralisation test (FAVN),
o Tissue culture infective test (TCIT),
o Molecular techniques (RT-PCR and QRT-PCR),
o Complete genome sequencing,
o OTC determination,
o Age determination
o Baits titration.

FAT and FAVN methods are accredited according to ISO17025.

 

Fields of research

Laboratory Research activities are mainly connected with rabies particularly in the field of Rabies epidemiology and diagnostic techniques. Recently, the research regarding stem cells and viral metagenomic were ongoing.  
 

Staff

The Laboratory represented by six agents is headed by Dr Tomislav Bedeković:

  • Ivana Lojkić, Scientist; PhD in molecular biology, Deputy Head
  • Nina Krešić, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
  • Ivana Šimić, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine;
  • Ines Ugrin, Technician
  • Mirjana Frljužec, Technician


Recent rabies publication:

  • Bedeković, T., Lemo N, Lojkić I, Mihaljević Z, Jungić A, Cvetnić Z, Cač Z, Hostnik P. (2013). Modification of the fluorescent antibody virus neutralisation test - elimination of the cytotoxic effect for the detection of rabies virus neutralising antibodies. Journal of Virological Methods.  189, 204-208.
  • Lojkić, Ivana; Bedeković, Tomislav; Čač, Željko; Lemo, Nina; Cvetnić, Željko (2013). Clinical rabies in cattle imported into Croatia. Veterinary record. 172, 22-23.
  • Lojkić, Ivana; Čač, Željko; Bedeković, Tomislav; Lemo, Nina; Brstilo, Mate; Müller, Thomas; Freuling, Conrad M. (2012). Diversity of currently circulating rabies virus strains in Croatia. Berliner und Münchener tierärztliche Wochenschrift. 125, 249-254.