title: Development and validation of a Myxoma virus real-time polymerase chain reaction assay.
abstract: To aid in the rapid diagnosis of myxomatosis in rabbits, a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the specific detection of Myxoma virus is described. Primers and probe were designed to amplify a 147-bp fragment within the Serp2 gene. The assay was able to detect 23 copies of a synthesized oligo indicating a reliable sensitivity. In addition, the real-time PCR did not detect the Rabbit fibroma virus used in myxomatosis vaccines. The novel PCR was shown to be able to detect Myxoma virus in fresh and paraffin-embedded rabbit tissues originating from myxomatosis cases from various regions in Switzerland.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, National Reference Center for Poultry and Rabbit Diseases (NRGK), Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 268/270, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Albini
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sigrist
authors.forename: Regula
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Güttinger
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schelling
authors.forename: Richard K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Hoop
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vögtlin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D009233:Myxoma virus / Q000235:genetics*; D011213:Poxviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D011817:Rabbits / Q000821:virology; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology