Rapid detection protocol for filoviruses.
BACKGROUND
The incidence of filovirus disease outbreaks has been increasing in recent years. Although there have been advances in the developments of diagnostics, field tests are rare. Apart from family members of infected patients, health care workers are at high risk of being infected during the initial phase of an outbreak. RT-PCR has been shown to be helpful in containing outbreaks.


OBJECTIVE
To develop Taqman-RT-PCR for the detection of Ebola-Zaire virus (EBOV-Z), Ebola-Sudan virus (EBOV-S) and Marburg virus (MBGV).


METHODS
Quantitative Taqman-RT-PCRs for the detection of these viruses were developed and established on a portable Smartcycler TD.


CONCLUSIONS
All three assays were highly sensitive and specific. The mobility of the assay system may help to contain future outbreaks.
Weidmann
Manfred
M
Department of Virology, Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Freiburg, Hermann-Herder-Street 11, 79104 Freiburg, Germany. Weidmann@ukl.uni-freiburg.de
Mühlberger
Elke
E
Hufert
Frank T
FT
D001483:Base Sequence; D029043:Ebolavirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019142:Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008379:Marburg Virus Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology; D029024:Marburgvirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins / Q000235:genetics; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics
D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; C113190:nucleocapsid protein, Ebola virus; C073094:nucleoprotein, Marburg virus