Blood test for a snail!!

A lot of information has been gained from the relatively recent abalone viral ganglioneuritis outbreak. You’ve heard of blood tests for humans, for your dogs and cats, but have you thought about doing the same for a snail?

The most recent study on the effects of the viral disease on abalone shows that their white blood cell count decreases.

Australian Veterinary Journal
Volume 90, Number 2 (January 2012)
	Leucopenia associated with abalone viral ganglioneuritis
	Authors:	C Hooper 1, R Slocombe 2, R Day 3, S Crawford 4
	Author Affiliations:	1: Gribbles Veterinary Pathology, 1868 Dandenong Rd, Clayton, VIC 3168 and Zoology Department, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; celia.hooper@gribbles.com.au 2: Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia. Zoology Department, The University of Melbourne, Parkville VIC, Australia. 3: Department of Zoology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia. 4: School of Botany, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
	Source:	Australian Veterinary Journal, Volume 90, Number 2 (January 2012)
	Page Numbers:	24 – 28
	Available Full Text:	Full Text: Open in New Window Format: PDF Size: unknown Location: Publisher’s Site Authentication: EBSCOhost EJS
	Abstract:	Objective To compare microscopic lesion severity with circulating total haemocyte counts (THC) in abalone affected by abalone viral ganglioneuritis (AVG).
	Citation:	C Hooper, R Slocombe, R Day, S Crawford . Leucopenia associated with abalone viral ganglioneuritis. Australian Veterinary Journal, Volume 90, Number 2 (January 2012), pp. 24-28,
	URL:	http://ejournals.ebsco.com/direct.asp?ArticleID=44FD81EC9FE9D7C72982