Evaluation of effects of high incubation temperatures on results of protozoal culture and real-time PCR testing for Tritrichomonas foetus inoculated in a commercially available self-contained culture media system

Objective—To evaluate effects of high incubation temperatures on results of protozoal culture and real-time PCR testing for Tritrichomonas foetus inoculated in a commercially available self-contained culture media system. Design—In vitro experimental study. Sample—2 strains of T foetus (1 field isolate from the University of California-Davis and 1 field isolate from the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory). Procedures—2 sets of 36 dual-chamber media pouches were inoculated with T foetus (36 sample pouches/strain) and incubated at temperatures of 37.0°C (98.6°F), 46.1°C (115.0°F), or 54.4°C (130.0°F) for 1, 3, 6, or 24 hours. Six uninoculated media samples in pouches stored at 37.0°C for the entire treatment period were used as negative controls. Pouches were removed from incubators and stored at 22.2°C (72.0°F) until all treatments were complete. Samples were submitted to a diagnostic laboratory for protozoal culture and real-time PCR testing. Results—T foetus was detectable microscopically in ...