Detection of tick-borne encephalitis virus RNA in ticks (Ixodes ricinus) by the polymerase chain reaction.
A polymerase chain reaction for the detection of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) RNA in ticks was developed. Two pairs of primers for nested PCR were selected from the 5'-NCR and the 5'-terminus of the C protein coding region, which are highly conserved among the TBEV isolates sequenced so far. The sensitivity of the nested PCR was tested by dilution experiments of a TBEV positive brain suspension. The specificity of the PCR products was confirmed by Southern blotting. In a pilot study, 60 homogenates of 7200 ticks (I. ricinus) were examined by PCR. Two homogenates were found positive. The PCR for TBEV RNA appears to be a valuable method to define endemic areas of TBE.
Ramelow
C
C
Institute for Veterinary Medicine of the Federal Health Office, Berlin, Germany.
Süss
J
J
Berndt
D
D
Roggendorf
M
M
Schreier
E
E
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D004669:Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013987:Ticks / Q000382:microbiology*
D012367:RNA, Viral