DETECTION OF BLUETONGUE VIRUS IN BLOOD SAMPLES OF INFECTED RUMINANTS BY RT-PCR FOR GENOME SEGMENT 7

摘要

RT-PCR for the detection of bluetongue virus (BTV) in blood samples, collected from infected animals, were described . Two primer sets targeting genome segment 7 of BTV were selected. The full-length S7 cDNA (1156 bp) was amplified in all samples of EDTA blood taken from BTV infected animals. No viral RNA was detected in samples from uninfected animals and seropositive cattle of Dutch origin, imported from Belgium on 7 August 2006. The method proved to be specific, as no positive reaction for foot and mouth disease virus, serotypes O and A, was observed. The applied RT-PCR is an accurate and reliable technique for the detection of BTV in EDTA blood samples. This assay is easy and quick to perform and the results are available within 10 h.