猪传染性胸膜肺炎PCR诊断方法的建立

根据已发表的猪胸膜肺炎放线杆菌APXIV毒素的基因序列，自行设计和合成了二对可扩增448bp和365bp目的片段的引物，成功的建立了检测APP的套式PCR方法。通过对猪肺疫巴氏杆菌、猪链球菌、大肠杆菌、猪嗜血杆菌、猪肺炎支原体和猪丹毒杆菌的DNA进行了PCR检测，结果均为阴性；对猪胸膜肺炎放线杆菌的1、2、5、6、7、9国际标准血清型均扩增出448bp和365bp的特异性条带；检测的敏感度一步PCR可达到5OO个细菌，最低检出DNA浓度可达到0．585ng／mL；套式PCR可达到50个细菌，最低检出DNA浓度可达到58．5pg／mL。另外，对5株从病猪体内分离的猪胸膜肺炎放线杆菌进行了检测，5株均成阳性反应；对10只屠宰猪的肺脏分离物进行了检测，结果1份为阳性。结果表明此法特异性和敏感性均很高，可做为猪传染性胸膜肺炎的快速诊断和流行病学调查的手段。     

山羊传染性胸膜肺炎PCR检测方法的建立及应用

本次研究以山羊传染性胸膜肺炎疫苗作为阳性模板,比对Genbank数据库中支原体基因序列,在16sRNA区设计特异性引物,建立山羊传染性胸膜肺炎PCR检测方法。应用建立的PCR方法检测来自云南省部分地区组织样品,结果显示:150份样品中检出阳性样品15份,阳性率为10%。结果表明,云南地区存在山羊传染性胸膜肺炎,此结果应引起重视。     

猪传染性胸膜肺炎PCR诊断方法的建立与应用

为调查猪传染性胸膜肺炎的流行状况,本试验建立了检测胸膜肺炎放线杆菌（Actinobacillus pleuropneaumoniae, App）的PCR方法。对186份病死猪病变组织及545份无临床症状健康猪鼻拭子进行了App的PCR检测。结果186份病料中App阳性率占43.0%（80/186）,545份猪鼻拭子中App阳性占9.4%（51/545）。该PCR方法可作为App临床诊断的重要手段之一。通过调查表明,聊城地区存在猪传染性胸膜肺炎放线杆菌的隐性感染及流行。     

猪弓形虫实时荧光PCR检测方法的建立与应用

为建立一种快速、敏感、特异的猪弓形虫检测方法,根据弓形虫保守基因序列,设计一套特异性引物和FAM荧光素标记的MGB探针;通过对PCR反应体系和反应条件进行优化筛选,建立了猪弓形虫实时荧光定量PCR检测方法,并对此PCR检测方法进行了特异性、敏感性、重复性试验;利用所建立的方法对60份疑似弓形虫感染的临床样品进行了检测。结果显示:建立的猪弓形虫实时荧光定量PCR检测方法在101～107拷贝/μL模板范围内有很好的线性关系;对弓形虫重组阳性质粒出现阳性扩增信号,但对阴性对照的水和其他7种病原对照未扩增出特异性曲线;最低检测模板浓度为10拷贝/μL;自60份疑似猪弓形虫感染样品中检出32份阳性,并且和克隆测序结果一致。结果表明,本研究建立的猪弓形虫实时荧光定量PCR检测方法可用于猪弓形虫的快速检测,从而为猪弓形虫病的诊断提供了特异、敏感、高通量的方法。     

布氏杆菌微滴数字PCR方法的建立

为建立一种布氏杆菌微滴数字PCR qPCR方法,对布氏杆菌病的定量诊断提供技术支持,在实时荧光PCR(qPCR)检测方法(T/CVMA 20—2020)的基础上,建立了布氏杆菌微滴数字PCR方法,并对方法的反应条件进行了优化,同时对其敏感性、特异性、重复性进行了评估。结果显示:本方法的最低检测下限为2.6 copies/μL,未发现与常见的5种细菌存在交叉反应,重复性检测的变异系数小于5%;采用该微滴数字PCR和实时荧光PCR检测方法分别对76份流产牛的阴道拭子进行检测,显示该微滴数字PCR比qPCR可以多检出3份阳性样品。本研究建立的微滴数字PCR方法敏感性高、特异性强、重复性好,适用于临床样品的布氏杆菌核酸检测。     

马泰勒虫不同PCR检测方法的比较

为寻求一种快速、有效的马泰勒虫PCR检测方法，用Bec-UF2、Equi-R；EMA-1F、EMA-1R两对引物对56份马血液样本中马泰勒虫的核蛋白体基因和表面蛋白基因进行了常规PCR方法检测，用EMA-5、EMA-6；EMA-7、EMA-8两对引物对56份马血液样本中马泰勒虫的表面蛋白基因进行了PCR和套式PCR方法检测。结果显示，以Bec-UF2、Equi-R为引物的PCR方法的阳性检出率为57．1％（32／56），以EMA-5、EMA-6；EMA-7、EMA-8为引物的套式PCR方法的阳性检出率为51．8％（29／56），以EMA-1F、EMA-1R为引物的PCR方法的阳性检出率为17．9％（10／56）。结果表明，以Bec-UF2、Equi-R为引物的常规PCR方法为检测马泰勒虫的最佳方法。     

鸭腺病毒A型TaqMan实时荧光定量PCR检测方法的建立

试验旨在建立鸭腺病毒A型（duck adenovirus A,DAdV-A）TaqMan实时荧光定量PCR检测方法。根据DAdV-A Hexon基因序列设计特异性引物和探针,建立了基于TaqMan探针检测DAdV-A的实时荧光定量PCR检测方法,对其特异性、灵敏性、重复性进行检测,用建立的TaqMan实时荧光定量PCR检测方法和常规PCR方法同时对福建地区临床收集的85份番鸭源病料进行DAdV-A感染的检测,比较其符合率。结果表明,试验成功建立了检测DAdV-A的实时荧光定量PCR检测方法,其扩增相关系数为0.996,扩增效率为99.9%;特异性强,对鸭常见病原（如鸭瘟病毒、鹅细小病毒、番鸭细小病毒、鸭圆环病毒、鸭源大肠杆菌、鸭疫里默氏杆菌和鸭源禽多杀性巴氏杆菌）检测均为阴性;灵敏度高,最低检测限为8.37拷贝/μL;重复性好,组内变异系数和组间变异系数分别为0.54%~1.28%和0.61%~2.39%。对临床送检的85份病料,TaqMan实时荧光定量PCR方法的阳性率为7.06%（6/85）,PCR方法的阳性率为5.88%（5/85）,且PCR检测的阳性样品经TaqMan实时荧光定量PCR方法检测均为阳性,符合率为100%。本研究建立了基于TaqMan探针检测DAdV-A的实时荧光定量PCR检测方法,为鸭群中开展DAdV-A的分子流行病学研究提供了有效技术手段。     

猪传染性胸膜肺炎放线杆菌PCR检测试剂盒的研制

根据GenBank中猪传染性胸膜肺炎放线杆菌apxⅣA基因序列,设计了1对引物,通过对PCR反应条件进行优化,研制了检测猪传染性胸膜肺炎放线杆菌的PCR试剂盒。该试剂盒扩增的阳性条带为600 bp,特异性与敏感性结果显示,该PCR检测试剂盒的最低核酸检测量为50 CFU/mL,而对金黄色葡萄球菌、链球菌、多杀性巴氏杆菌、鼠伤寒沙门氏菌、副猪嗜血杆菌、大肠杆菌的扩增结果均为阴性。-20℃至少可保存12个月,且重复性良好。应用该PCR试剂盒对41份临床样本进行了检测,其PCR检测结果与细菌学检测结果相一致。结果表明,猪传染性胸膜肺炎放线杆菌PCR检测试剂盒能够对APP临床样品进行快捷、灵敏、准确的检测。     

应用PCR技术快速检测猪胸膜肺炎放线杆菌

为了研究猪传染性胸膜肺炎放线杆菌的快速检测技术,试验采用GenBank中猪传染性胸膜肺炎放线杆菌APXⅣA基因的序列设计了1对引物,建立了检测猪胸膜肺炎放线杆菌的PCR方法。结果表明:猪胸膜肺炎放线杆菌血清1～10型均能扩增出预期片段,而金黄色葡萄球菌、链球菌、多杀性巴氏杆菌、支气管败血波氏杆菌、副猪嗜血杆菌、大肠杆菌的扩增结果均为阴性;用该方法检测自猪鼻腔采集的87份鼻拭子,有15份为阳性,72份为阴性。说明建立的猪胸膜肺炎放线杆菌PCR方法可用于猪胸膜肺炎的快速诊断。     

羊鞭虫病实时荧光PCR检测方法的建立

为建立一种快速检测羊鞭虫病实时荧光PCR方法,根据GenBank已经公布的羊鞭虫(Trichuris ovis)ITS基因序列(登录号:JF680987.1),设计特异性引物和TaqMan探针,以重组质粒作为绝对定量模板,建立检测羊鞭虫病的TaqMan实时荧光PCR方法。对反应体系的特异性、敏感性和稳定性进行评价,并用该方法对临床样品进行检测。结果显示,该检测方法线性关系良好,标准曲线的相关系数R^2=0.994,扩增效率E=1.05。该方法特异性强,与其他8种常见家畜寄生性线虫病不发生交叉反应;灵敏度高,最低检出下限为31.7拷贝/μL;重复性好,组内和组间变异系数分别为0.43%~1.04%和1.20%~1.91%,均小于2.00%。用建立的实时荧光PCR方法和显微镜检查方法分别对20份临床样品进行检测,实时荧光PCR和显微镜检查方法检出的阳性样品分别为14和9份。本研究建立的TaqMan实时荧光PCR方法能在粪便中快速、准确、灵敏检测羊鞭虫卵,为羊鞭虫病的检测和防控提供新的方法。     

牛卵形巴贝斯虫巢式PCR诊断方法的建立及初步应用

根据GenBank上发表的牛卵形巴贝斯虫CCTη基因序列设计合成2对巢式PCR引物,建立牛卵形巴贝斯虫巢式PCR诊断方法,对该方法的最佳反应条件进行了筛选,并进行了特异性、敏感性及临床样本检测试验。结果表明,建立的巢式PCR方法外引物扩增牛卵形巴贝斯虫基因组片段的长度为1 008bp,内引物为537bp;该方法扩增不出牛瑟氏泰勒虫、弓形虫、犬新孢子虫基因组DNA;最低检测DNA含量为16fg;通过对46份临床样本的检测,该巢式PCR较常规PCR阳性检出率高8.7%。本试验为牛卵形巴贝斯虫病的诊断提供了一种更为特异、敏感的检测技术。     

Development of a qPCR for the detection of infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV) based on the gE gene

1. Infectious laryngotracheitis is a respiratory disease that affects the poultry industry worldwide. It is common in flocks with high-bird density, causing major economic losses.

2. In this study, a SYBR® FAST polymerase chain reaction (PCR) double-strand DNA intercalating agent assay was performed for the detection of infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV) in clinical samples in comparison with a conventional nested-PCR, both based on the glycoprotein E encoding gene. This assay amplified 56 bp and was capable of detecting 1⁹ to 1 copies of virus.

3. In total, 164 clinical samples were obtained from birds with respiratory problems from the period of 2009–2016. In the nested-PCR, there were 45.12% positive samples and 54.88% negative samples, while in the real-time PCR (qPCR), there were 81.1% positive samples and 18.9% negative samples.

4. In conclusion, qPCR from the DNA double-strand intercalating agent SYBR® GREEN FAST was useful for the diagnosis of ILTV because it detected samples that were negative in nested-PCR. This assay has advantages, such as a shortened processing-time, and no need for post-amplification processing (electrophoresis) with additional reagents, such as MgCl₂ and agarose. Hence, qPCR proved to be useful, rapid and low cost for use with clinical samples.     

Peri-parturient rise of Cryptosporidium oocysts in cows: New insights provided by duplex quantitative real-time PCR

In order to clarify if a peri-parturient rise of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts occurs in cows, faecal samples from 42 cows on two farms were collected. These samples were taken during the pre-parturient, the peri-parturient and the post-parturient periods. Two methods were used to detect the oocysts, a nested-PCR coupled with sequencing and a duplex real-time PCR (qPCR) that quantified Cryptosporidium spp. DNA concentration. The qPCR results were adjusted using a hierarchical Bayesian model taking into account within and between run variation. Generalised Estimating Equation models (GEE) were used to determine if peri-parturient cows were at greater risk of being infected than pre- or post-parturient cows. Fourteen dairy cows exhibited a peri-parturient and post-parturient rise in the excretion of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts, other than the zoonotic C. parvum. The cows in the suckler beef farm were the only ones infected with the zoonotic species C. parvum at calving. Due to the low concentration of oocysts excreted mainly from species other than C. parvum, it would appear unlikely that cows act as a source of infection for their calves or contribute significantly to environmental contamination.     

Validation of nonnested and real-time PCR for diagnosis of sheep-associated malignant catarrhal fever in clinical samples.

Sheep-associated malignant catarrhal fever (SA-MCF), a frequently fatal disease primarily of certain ruminants, is caused by ovine herpesvirus 2 (OvHV-2). Molecular diagnosis of SA-MCF in affected animals has relied on detection of OvHV-2 DNA using a nested PCR, which has significant potential for amplicon contamination as a routine method in diagnostic laboratories. In this report, a nonnested and a previously developed real-time PCR were validated for detection of OvHV-2 DNA in samples from clinically affected animals. Three sets of blood or tissue samples were collected: 1) 97 samples from 97 naturally affected animals with evidence of clinical SA-MCF; 2) 200 samples from 8 animals with experimentally induced SA-MCF; and 3) 100 samples from 100 animals without any evidence of clinical SA-MCF. Among 97 positive samples defined by nested PCR from clinically affected animals, 95 (98%) were positive by nonnested PCR and 93 (96%) were positive by real-time PCR, respectively. One hundred percent of the samples from the animals with experimentally induced MCF were positive by real-time PCR, while 99% were positive by nonnested PCR. Neither nonnested PCR nor real-time PCR yielded a positive result on any of the 100 nested PCR-negative samples from animals without evidence of clinical MCF. The data confirmed that both nonnested and real-time PCR maintained high specificity and sensitivity for the detection of OvHV-2 DNA in clinical samples.     

Correlation between the presence of enzootic pneumonia lesions and detection of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae in bronchial swabs by PCR

In many diagnostic laboratories the diagnosis of mycoplasmal pneumonia in pigs is based on clinical signs and the presence of gross and histopathological lesions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the nested-PCR technique as an adjunct to the histopathological diagnosis of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae infection. Respiratory disease of 184 swine cases submitted to the Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory between 1 January and 30 June 1998 were used. Bronchial swabs were collected and the nested-PCR performed. Lung samples were graded PCR positive or negative. Histopathological lesions were scored 0-4, depending on the mycoplasma-like characteristics of the lesions, with category 4 demonstrating strong evidence of mycoplasma infection.Nested-PCR correlated well with histopathological lesions characteristic of M. hyopneumoniae in categories 3 and 4 and approximately half of the histopathological categories 1 and 2 were nested-PCR positive. The results demonstrate that the nested-PCR is a valuable adjunct in the diagnosis of M. hyopneumoniae infection when non-diagnostic microscopic lesions of mycoplasmosis are found.     

Molecular detection of Bartonella henselae and Bartonella clarridgeiae in clinical samples of pet cats from Southern Italy

Bartonella henselae is considered an emerging pathogen of veterinary and medical interest that can be occasionally transmitted to humans. Cats are considered to be the only reservoir host for B. henselae. In this study, we used a nested-PCR assay to investigate the prevalence of B. henselae and Bartonella clarridgeiae DNA in peripheral blood samples, fine needle lymph node aspirate specimens and oral swabs from 85 cats in order to develop an easy diagnostic strategy for the selection of infection-free cats that are being considered as pets, especially for immunocompromised patients. Overall, molecular analysis showed that 71 cats (83.5%) tested PCR positive for the presence of B. henselae DNA. PCR amplification of DNA B. henselae produced positive products from lymph node aspirate specimens (62/85; 72.9%) similar to those obtained from blood samples (60/85; 70.6%) and higher than those from oral swabs (51/85; 60%) of cats. No PCR product was obtained for B. clarridgeiae. The simultaneous analysis of three different clinical samples in our study increased the diagnostic possibilities for B. henselae infection in the examined cats from 60–72.9% to 83.5%. Lymph node aspirates were found to be the most effective clinical samples for the detection of B. henselae and blood samples were the next best. Oral swab samples were used in this study with good results when considered in combination with blood and/or lymph node aspiration. The use of nested-PCR assay on these three clinical samples may enhance the diagnostic sensitivity for bartonellosis in cats irrespective of the clinical status of animals.     

Detection of mixed infections with "Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum" and Mycoplasma haemofelis using real-time TaqMan polymerase chain reaction.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of real-time TaqMan PCR assays for detection of coinfections with "Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum" (Mhm), and Mycoplasma haemofelis (Mhf), in vitro and over time in experimentally infected cats. First, the ability of each real-time PCR assay to detect and quantify mixed infections was determined in vitro by testing mixtures of plasmids containing Mhm and Mhf 16S rDNA with each assay. Subsequently, 4 specific pathogen-free (SPF) cats, 2 of which were splenectomized, were inoculated with blood from a cat infected with both Mhm and Mhf. Sixteen blood samples were then collected from each cat over a 55-day period. Each of the 64 postinoculation samples was tested using both conventional polymerase chain reaction (cPCR) and real-time PCR for the 16S rRNA gene of each organism. When applied to mixtures of plasmid DNA from each species, the results of quantitation with each of the real-time PCR assays approximately reflected the number of plasmid copies present. Forty-nine of 64 post-inoculation samples (77%) were positive using both cPCR and real-time PCR, 4 (6%) were positive using cPCR only, and 3 (5%) were positive using real-time PCR only. Both organisms were detected in 23 samples using real-time PCR. Mixed infections were not detected using cPCR. The size of the corresponding cPCR products suggested infection with Mhm in 4 and Mhf in 18 of these samples. The use of multiple separate real-time PCR assays rather than cPCR alone should thus be considered for epidemiologic studies of hemoplasmosis in cats.     

Diagnostic real-time PCR assay for the quantitative detection of Theileria equi from equine blood samples

We developed a TaqMan real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for the quantitative detection of Theileria equi from the in vitro-cultured parasite and field blood samples collected from horses living in Ghana and Brazil. The detection limit for the assay was determined to be 1.5 parasites/microl per sample, and the quantitative capacity was demonstrated using the in vitro-cultured parasite. For field applications, the real-time PCR assay was compared to a previously established nested PCR assay used as the gold standard for the real-time PCR assay. Of 65 field blood samples, 46 samples were T. equi-positive in the nested PCR assay, while the real-time PCR assay also detected the parasite in all 46 of the nested PCR-positive samples but did not detect T. equi in the remaining 19 negative blood samples. This quantitative real-time PCR assay provides a valuable tool for fast laboratory diagnostic assessment of T. equi infection in horses.     

Development and evaluation of a nested-PCR assay for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Senecavirus A</Emphasis> diagnosis

Senecavirus A (SVA) has been associated with vesicular disease in weaned and adult pigs and with high mortality of newborn piglets. This study aimed to establish a nested-PCR assay for the routine diagnosis of SVA infection. Tissue samples (n = 177) were collected from 37 piglets of 18 pig farms located in four different Brazilian states. For the nested-PCR, a primer set was defined to amplify an internal VP1 fragment of 316 bp of SVA genome. Of the 37 piglets, 15 (40.5%) and 23 (62.2%) were positive for the SVA in the RT-PCR and nested-PCR assays, respectively. The SVA RNA was detected in 61/177 (34.5%) samples with the RT-PCR, while the nested-PCR assay showed 84/177 (47.5%) samples with the virus (p < 0.05). According to the herds, 11 (61.1%) and 16 (88.9%) of the 18 pig herds were positive for the SVA in the RT-PCR and nested-PCR assays, respectively. Nucleotide sequencing analysis revealed similarities of 98.7–100% among SVA Brazilian strains and of 86.6–98% with SVA strains from other countries. The nested-PCR assay in this study was suitable to recover the SVA RNA in biological specimens, piglets, and/or herds that were considered as negative in the RT-PCR assay, and is proposed for the routine investigation of the SVA infection in piglets, especially when other techniques are not available or when a great number of samples has to be examined.     

Multiplex real-time PCR for the detection and differentiation of equid herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) and equid herpesvirus 4 (EHV-4)

A multiplex real-time PCR was designed to detect and differentiate equid herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) and equid herpesvirus 4 (EHV-4). The PCR targets the glycoprotein B gene of EHV-1 and EHV-4. Primers and probes were specific to each equine herpesvirus type and can be used in monoplex or multiplex PCRs, allowing the differentiation of these two closely related members of the Alphaherpesvirinae. The two probes were minor-groove binding probes (MGB) labelled with 6-carboxy-fluorescein (FAM) and VIC for detection of EHV-1 and EHV-4, respectively. Ten EHV-1 isolates, six EHV-1 positive clinical samples, one EHV-1 reference strain (EHV-1.438/77), three EHV-4 positive clinical samples, two EHV-4 isolates and one EHV-4 reference strain (EHV-4 405/76) were included in this study. EHV-1 isolates, clinical samples and the reference strain reacted in the EHV-1 real-time PCR but not in the EHV-4 real-time PCR and similarly EHV-4 clinical samples, isolates and the reference strain were positive in the EHV-4 real-time PCR but not in the EHV-1 real-time PCR. Other herpesviruses, such as EHV-2, EHV-3 and EHV-5 were all negative when tested using the multiplex real-time PCR. When bacterial pathogens and opportunistic pathogens were tested in the multiplex real-time PCR they did not react with either system. The multiplex PCR was shown to be sensitive and specific and is a useful tool for detection and differentiation of EHV-1 and EHV-4 in a single reaction. A comprehensive equine herpesvirus disease investigation procedure used in our laboratory is also outlined. This procedure describes the combination of alphaherpesvirus multiplex real-time PCR along with existing gel-based PCRs described by other authors.