Molecular beacon real-time PCR detection of swine viruses

John McKillen*, Bernt Hjertner, Andrena Millar, Francis McNeilly, Sándor Belák, Brian Adair, Gordon Allan

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

43 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Rapid and reliable detection of viral pathogens is critical for the management of the diseases threatening the economic competitiveness of the swine farming industry worldwide. Molecular beacon assays are one type of real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology capable of fast, specific, sensitive, and reliable viral detection. In this paper, the development of molecular beacon assays as novel tools for the rapid detection of Aujeszky's disease virus, African swine fever virus, porcine circovirus type 2 and porcine parvovirus is described. The assays are capable of rapidly detecting 2 × 101 copies of target and are linear between 2 × 109 and 2 × 102 copies. They can detect virus specifically in clinical samples such as whole blood, serum and tissue. In comparison to conventional PCR they are either as sensitive or more sensitive. As such these molecular beacon assays represent a powerful tool for the detection of these viruses in swine.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)155-165
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Virological Methods
Volume140
Issue number1-2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2007

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This research formed part of an EU funded project entitled “Development, standardisation and harmonisation of novel multiplex nucleic acid tests for the detection of economically important viruses of farm animals”, QLK2-CT-2000-00486; Website: http://www.multiplex-eu.org ). This collaborative project involved six European laboratories and was supported by the 5th Framework Programme of the European Commission. The authors are grateful to Dr. Åse Uttenthal of the Danish Institute for Food and Veterinary Research (DFVF), Department of Virology, Lindholm, Denmark for kindly supplying the ASFV nucleic acid specimens.

Copyright:
Copyright 2008 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • African swine fever virus
  • Aujeszky's disease virus
  • Molecular beacons
  • Porcine circovirus type 2
  • Porcine parvovirus
  • Real-time PCR

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Virology

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