title: High sensitivity polymerase chain reaction assay for active and latent feline herpesvirus-1 infections in domestic cats.
abstract: A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was developed and used to detect feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1) in conjunctival and oropharyngeal swabs, and in latently infected tissues (trigeminal ganglia, optic nerves, optic chiasma, olfactory bulbs and corneas) collected from 10 experimentally infected cats. There was good agreement between parallel tests of the swab specimens by PCR and virus isolation assay during the phase of acute, latent and recurrent disease episodes (kappa = 0.63, P < 0.001). The PCR reliably detected < or = 240 copies of FHV-1 template DNA, significantly improving upon previously published PCR assays for the agent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Companion Animal and Special Species Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27606, USA.
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Weigler
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Babineau
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sherry
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Nasisse
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D015139:Blotting, Southern / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D002415:Cats; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006564:Herpesviridae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D009474:Neurons / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D009960:Oropharynx / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral