title: A short target real-time RT-PCR assay for detection of pestiviruses infecting cattle.
abstract: A rapid single step real-time duplex TaqMan RT-PCR was developed for detection of bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV)-1, BVDV-2 and border disease virus (BDV). Based on alignment of available and newly generated partial 5'-UTR nucleotide sequences, one forward and two reverse primers were designed, which amplify a 104bp PCR product. Two TaqMan probes labelled with different fluorochromes were designed to detect BVDV-1/BVDV-2 and BDVs, respectively. The assay was able to detect a selection of strains and isolates that represent the genetic diversity of these three viruses, with an analytical sensitivity that corresponded to 3.6, 48 and 4.8 TCID(50) of BVDV-1, BVDV-2 and BDV, respectively. With an overall cycling time of around 70 min, the assay allows rapid diagnosis and efficient use of modern thermocycling machines. Although developed principally for the diagnosis of BVD, the assay should be equally useful for diagnosis of BD in sheep.
authors.affiliation: Virology Department, Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: La Rocca
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sandvik
mesh_terms: D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D000818:Animals; D018083:Border disease virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D030241:Diarrhea Virus 1, Bovine Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D030242:Diarrhea Virus 2, Bovine Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D018182:Pestivirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D012367:RNA, Viral