Dried Blood Spots technology for veterinary applications and biological investigations: technical aspects, retrospective analysis, ongoing status and future perspectives

Abstract

Dried Blood Spots (DBS) technology has become a valuable tool in medical studies, however, in veterinary and biological research DBS technology applications are still limited. Up-to-date no review has comprehensively integrated all the evidence existing across the fields, technologies and animal species. In this paper we summarize the current applications of DBS technology in the mentioned areas, and provide a scope of different types of dried sample carriers (cellulose and non-cellulose), sampling devices, applicable methods for analyte extraction and detection. Mammals, birds, insects and other species are represented as the study objects. Besides the blood, the review considers a variety of specimens, such as milk, saliva, tissue samples and others. The main applications of dried samples highlighted in the review include epidemiological surveys and monitoring for infections agents or specific antibodies for disease/vaccination control in households and wildlife. Besides the genetic investigations, the paper describes detection of environmental contaminants, pregnancy diagnosis and many other useful applications of animal dried samples. The paper also analyses dried sample stability and storage conditions for antibodies, viruses and other substances. Finally, recent developments and future research for DBS technology in veterinary medicine and biological sciences are discussed.

Nucleic acid degradation after long‐term dried blood spot storage

“…This is particularly true if the nucleic acids are the intended downstream analysis target. Various preservation methods have been employed to store samples for nucleic acid‐based research in the field including freezing where electricity or liquid nitrogen storage is possible, preservation in storage buffers such as RNALater and ethanol (Camacho‐Sanchez et al., 2013; Nsubuga et al., 2004; Soto‐Calderon et al., 2009), and several types of filter paper (Hearps et al., 2010; Hsiao et al., 1999; Samsonova et al., 2022; Smith & Burgoyne, 2004). Snap freezing maintains the integrity of nucleic acids ideal for downstream genomic applications (da Cunha Santos, 2018; Mareninov et al., 2013; Riesgo et al., 2012; Tang et al., 2012) as it effectively halts enzymatic activity, slows nucleic acid degradation, and minimizes microbial growth (Naber, 1996; Shabihkhani et al., 2014).…”

“…Filter paper storage is easy to implement and transport even in remote field sites. The most widely applied sample type is dried blood spots (DBS) (McClendon‐Weary et al., 2020; Samsonova et al., 2022). DBS samples were first applied in clinical settings to detect metabolites indicative of phenylketonuria in newborns (Guthrie & Susi, 1963; Pitt, 2010; van Vliet et al., 2020).…”

“…Such studies have targeted proteins (Martin & Cooper, 2014), lipids (Koulman et al., 2014), and nucleic acids (Tuaillon et al., 2020). DBS has been used extensively in medical diagnostics and bio‐banking (Capiau et al., 2019; Demirev, 2013; Lim, 2018; McClendon‐Weary et al., 2020; Russcher et al., 2020), while its potential significance in the fields of animal biology, particularly for wildlife may be underestimated (Samsonova et al., 2022).…”

“…is possible, preservation in storage buffers such as RNALater and ethanol (Camacho-Sanchez et al, 2013;Nsubuga et al, 2004;Soto-Calderon et al, 2009), and several types of filter paper (Hearps et al, 2010;Hsiao et al, 1999;Samsonova et al, 2022;Smith & Burgoyne, 2004). Snap freezing maintains the integrity of nucleic acids ideal for downstream genomic applications (da Cunha Santos, 2018;Mareninov et al, 2013;Riesgo et al, 2012;Tang et al, 2012) as it effectively halts enzymatic activity, slows nucleic acid degradation, and minimizes microbial growth (Naber, 1996;Shabihkhani et al, 2014).…”