PCR-based assay to detect sheeppox virus in ocular, nasal, and rectal swabs from infected Moroccan sheep.
Sheeppox is now enzootic in Morocco. The development of a reliable method for rapid diagnosis of the disease is a central part of any control strategy. The aim of this study is to determine the diagnostic value of a variety of clinical samples such as ovine nasal, ocular or rectal swabs for the detection of sheeppox virus (SPPV) by qualitative conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR), using a single pair of primers targeting the inverted terminal repeats of the SPPV InS-1 strain, a virulent field isolate. Swab and blood samples were collected from forty animals naturally infected with SPPV who had clinical signs of sheeppox. All animals tested PCR-positive for SPPV. Positive results were obtained infrequently with blood samples, whereas swab samples from at least two sites (nasal, ocular, rectal) were positive per evaluated animal. These results indicate that swab samples are suitable for quantitative molecular SPPV diagnosis. PCR product sequences obtained from all types of sheep samples proved to be identical to the corresponding regions of sheeppox virus strain Romania 65.
Laboratory of Virology, Microbiology and Quality/Ecotoxicology and Biodiversity, Hassan II University Mohammedia-Casablanca, Faculty of Science and Technology Mohammedia, BP 146 Mohammedia 20650, Morocco; Regional Laboratory of Analysis and Research of Oujda, National Office for the Safety of Food Products, 60 000 Oujda, Morocco.
K
K
Zro
Military Hospital of Instruction Mohammed V, Rabat 14 000, Morocco.
S
S
Azelmat
Regional Laboratory of Analysis and Research of Oujda, National Office for the Safety of Food Products, 60 000 Oujda, Morocco.
Y
Y
Bendouro
Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 8200 Research Plaza, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD, United States.
J H
JH
Kuhn
Functional Genomics Platform Scientific Research Technical Support Unit - Biology - National Center of Scientific and Technical Research, Rabat 14 000, Morocco.
E
E
El Fahime
Laboratory of Virology, Microbiology and Quality/Ecotoxicology and Biodiversity, Hassan II University Mohammedia-Casablanca, Faculty of Science and Technology Mohammedia, BP 146 Mohammedia 20650, Morocco. Electronic address: m.ennaji@yahoo.fr.
M M
MM
Ennaji
D000818:Animals; D001769:Blood / Q000821:virology; D018151:Capripoxvirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D005123:Eye / Q000821:virology; D005838:Genotype; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D009018:Morocco; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000821:virology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D011213:Poxviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D012007:Rectum / Q000821:virology; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology*; D014730:Veterinary Medicine / Q000379:methods*
D017931:DNA Primers; D004279:DNA, Viral
Capripoxvirus; PCR; Poxviridae; Poxvirus; Sheeppox virus