title: Diagnosis of equid herpesviruses -1 and -4 by polymerase chain reaction.
abstract: The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a sensitive technique used to detect DNA of viral pathogens. We have applied the technique to the detection of Equid herpesviruses-1 and -4 (EHV-1 and EHV-4) DNA within nasopharyngeal swab samples from horses. Ninety-eight samples from suspected field cases and in-contact horses were analysed. The assays were conducted blind and later decoded and compared with virus isolation data. Our results indicate that PCR is a sensitive and rapid technique for the diagnosis of EHV-1 and EHV-4 infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Glasgow Veterinary School, UK.
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Cullinane
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Onions
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nicolson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D006564:Herpesviridae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D004861:Herpesvirus 1, Equid / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006736:Horses; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000382:microbiology; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes / Q000737:chemistry; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes