Time is of essence; rapid identification of veterinary pathogens using MALDI TOF

Rapid and accurate identification of microbial pathogens is a cornerstone for timely and correct treatment of diseases of livestock and fish. The utility of the MALDI-TOF technique in the diagnostic laboratory is directly related to the quality of mass spectra and quantity of different microbial species in the database.

Since commercial MALDI-TOF spectral database providers mainly focus on human pathogens there is a need for improving the datasets in order to extend the applicability of the technique to the veterinary field. Here we report upgrading of a commercial MALDI-TOF database with the mass spectra of fish and mastitis pathogens as well as pathogens relevant for surveillance of diseases in farm animals and wildlife.