Polymerase chain reaction for detection of herpesvirus simiae (B virus) in clinical specimens.
A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was designed which is specific to Macaca fascicularis (cynomolgus monkey) isolates of B virus. The PCR primers produced the expected 188 basepair product from the Cyno 2 strain and seven other cynomolgus monkey isolates of B virus. Oligomer hybridization with a 31-mer oligonucleotide was used to confirm the origin of this product. The PCR failed to amplify DNA of Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, varicella-zoster virus, and other alphaherpesviruses (herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2, four SA 8 isolates and three rhesus isolates of B virus). PCR testing of swabs obtained from four orally-infected cynomolgus monkeys confirmed the presence of B virus DNA in samples previously shown to be positive by culture. In addition, PCR detected B virus in several swabs from infected monkeys that were culture negative. Total DNA extracts from the trigeminal and sacral ganglia of these animals were tested by nested PCR and B virus DNA was detected in the trigeminal ganglia of 3 of the 4 orally-infected cynomolgus monkeys. Nested PCR did not detect B virus DNA in total DNA extracts obtained from the brains of the four monkeys.
Virus Reference Division, Central Public Health Laboratory, London, U.K.
M J
MJ
Slomka
D W
DW
Brown
J P
JP
Clewley
A M
AM
Bennett
L
L
Harrington
D C
DC
Kelly
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001921:Brain / Q000382:microbiology; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000382:microbiology; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D006568:Herpesvirus 1, Cercopithecine / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008252:Macaca fascicularis; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012668:Trigeminal Ganglion / Q000382:microbiology; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology; D014709:Vero Cells
D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D004279:DNA, Viral