AOAC SPADA February 2015 Meeting Book

VEE as Bioweapon • FDR authorized development of VEE as a  biological warfare agent with offensive and  defensive objectives  – Incapacitating agent – Led to development of attenuated TC‐83 vaccine  strain and inactivated C 84 vaccine strain  ‐  – Aerosol, solid, liquid forms possible  • R. Nixon cancelled biological weapons program • Other countries were/are suspected of VEE as BT

VEEV – Existing PCR assays 

• Purpose: Detect VEEV RNA in  clinical samples from horses

– Brain is preferred sample – Horse is an amplifying host

• Target:  E2 membrane glycoprotein – Associated with virus attachment to cells – Antibody to E2 neutralizes VEEV – Subtype differentiation by primer  selection and sequencing of amplicon • Nested PCR method  – Enhances sensitivity – Cross contamination risks