title: Comparison of dot blot hybridization, polymerase chain reaction, and virus isolation for detection of bovine herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1) in artificially infected bovine semen.
abstract: Bovine semen samples spiked with bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) were used to compare dot blot hybridization, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and virus isolation for detection of BHV-1 in bovine semen. The PCR amplification used primers targeting the BHV-1 thymidine kinase gene and a nucleic acid releasing cocktail (GeneReleaser); the PCR product was used as the DNA probe in dot blot hybridization; virus isolation was done in primary bovine fetal testis (BFT) cell cultures. Semen diluted 1:20 in tissue culture medium had the least cytotoxicity and inhibition of viral cytopathic effects in BFT cells, allowing detection of 1 TCID50/100 microL of BHV-1 suspension by virus isolation. The presence of foreign DNA such as bovine sperm DNA or salmon sperm DNA increased the sensitivity of dot blot hybridization in detecting BHV-1, allowing detection of 20,000 TCID50/100 microL of neat semen. The inhibition of PCR amplification of BHV-1 DNA in bovine semen was eliminated by diluting the samples 1:20 in tissue culture medium. The best PCR amplification was obtained when semen was diluted 1:20 and when a reaction buffer of pH 9.0, with 1.0 mM MgCl2 was used. Under these conditions, the PCR followed by ethidium bromide staining of agarose gels could detect 1 TCID20/100 microL of sample, whereas PCR followed by Southern blot hybridization could detect 0.01 TCID50/100 microL of sample.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown.
authors.forename: J Q
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: C V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Yason
authors.forename: F S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Kibenge
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D007242:Herpesvirus 1, Bovine / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015151:Immunoblotting / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D012661:Semen / Q000821:virology*