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ABSTRACT: A highly sensitive and specific one-step multiplex RT-PCR assay has been developed and standardised for the simultaneous and differential detection of the most important vesicular viruses affecting livestock: foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV), swine vesicular disease virus (SVDV), and vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). The method uses three primer sets, each one specific for the corresponding virus, selected to detect of all serotypes of FMD and VS. The detection range was confirmed by examination of a collection of 31 isolates of the three target viruses. The specificity of the assay was also demonstrated by testing other related viruses, uninfected cell line cultures and healthy pig tissues. The testing of blood and serum samples from animals infected experimentally proved that the method can be useful for early diagnosis of the diseases, even before the first vesicular lesions are visualized in the infected pigs. An assessment of the performance of the multiplex RT-PCR was carried out using a panel of more than 100 samples from animals infected experimentally, showing the suitability of the method for a rapid (less than 6h), sensitive and specific differential diagnosis in clinical samples. Additionally, a uniplex RT-PCR for VSV, that amplifies the two viral serotypes, was also developed and tested as a rapid tool for the diagnosis of this vesicular disease.
Journal of Virological Methods 03/2008; 147(2):301-11. · 2.01 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: In order to establish a rapid and reliable system for the detection of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), we developed a quantitative reverse transcription-PCR assay for the detection, quantification, and differentiation of the major serotypes, VSV Indiana and VSV New Jersey, using a closed-tube multiplex format. The detection system is based on the recently invented primer-probe energy transfer (PriProET) system. A region of the gene encoding the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase was amplified by using VSV-specific primers in the presence of two serotype-specific fluorescent probes. By incorporating nucleotide analogues in the primers, both serotypes were amplified with similar efficiencies. The generation of specific amplicons resulted in fluorescent signals for either of the two serotypes, and the specificities of the reactions were confirmed from the melting temperature profiles of the fluorescent probes. The limits of detection were found to be less than 10 50% tissue culture infective doses/ml for both serotypes. The diagnostic value of the new method was tested with clinical materials from experimentally infected pigs, and it is concluded that the method is a powerful tool for the rapid identification of VSV.
Journal of Clinical Microbiology 02/2005; 43(1):356-62. · 4.15 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The development and standardisation of a novel, highly sensitive and specific one-step hot start multiplex RT-PCR assay is presented for the simultaneous and differential diagnosis of African swine fever (ASF) and Classical swine fever (CSF). The method uses two primer sets, each one specific for the corresponding virus, amplifying DNA fragments different in length, allowing a gel-based differential detection of the PCR products. Universal detection of ASF and CSF virus strains was achieved through selection of primers in conserved viral genome regions. The detection range was confirmed by analysis of a large collection of isolates of the two viruses. The high specificity of the assay was proven by testing related viruses, uninfected cell line cultures and healthy pig tissues. Additional confirmatory tests of the ASF and CSF virus amplicon specificity, based on restriction endonuclease analysis with BsmA I or Ban II, respectively, are also described. The analysis of whole blood and serum samples from experimentally infected animals proved the usefulness of the method for an early diagnosis of both diseases, even before the appearance of the first clinical signs. A study of 150 positive field samples from several ASF and CSF outbreaks showed the suitability of this method for a rapid (less than five hours), sensitive and specific differential diagnosis in clinical samples. In addition, a highly sensitive and specific uniplex RT-PCR for CSFV was also developed and standardised as a powerful tool for fast and early diagnosis of the disease.
Veterinary Research 35(5):551-63. · 4.06 Impact Factor