Development and Preliminary Application of a Semi-nested PCR Assay for Detection of Chicken Parvovirus

In order to set up and optimize a semi-nested PCR for rapid detection of chicken parvovirus (ChPV), three specific primers were designed according to conserved sequences of NS 1 gene of ChPV. The specificity and sensitivity of ChPV semi-nested PCR were tested, and the assay was applied to detect 48 clinical samples. The specificity and sensitivity tests showed that this semi-nested PCR was only sensitive to ChPV for amplifying specific band of 186 bp and it could detect 5.62 fg/μL of ChPV DNA, without any sensitivity to other viruses, such as Newcastle disease virus, H9 subtype avian influenza virus, Marek's disease virus, infectious laryngotracheitis virus and infectious bronchitis virus. 48 chicken samples were detected and the positive rate was 16.67% (8/48). The results of our study demonstrated that the optimized semi-nested PCR could be a method that was suitable for clinical detection of ChPV.     

鸡细小病毒半巢式PCR检测方法的建立及初步应用

为建立一种快速、特异、灵敏的检测鸡细小病毒（chicken parvovirus,ChPV）的方法,根据ChPV的保守基因NS1设计了3条特异性引物,建立并优化了能快速检测ChPV的半巢式PCR方法,对其进行特异性和敏感性试验,并用所建立的方法对48份临床样品进行了检测。特异性和敏感性试验结果显示,建立的半巢式PCR只对ChPV敏感,扩增产物为186 bp的特异性条带;其最低能检测到5.62 fg/μL的ChPV DNA;而对鸡新城疫病毒、H9亚型禽流感病毒、马立克氏病病毒、鸡传染性喉气管炎病毒、鸡传染性支气管炎病毒不敏感。临床检测结果显示,同时对48份临床样品进行检测,检出率为16.67%（8/48）,提示广西区内鸡群存在ChPV感染。本研究建立的ChPV半巢式PCR方法适用于ChPV的临床检测。     

Rapid PCR detection of Salmonella in horse faecal samples

A rapid polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was developed for detecting Salmonella in faeces of horses and assessed on samples from horses admitted to a veterinary hospital. Direct detection was achieved by amplification of part of ompC after extraction of DNA from faeces using a spin column method to reduce the amount of inhibitory substances in samples. An internal positive control was included to detect false negative results. While the sensitivity of the PCR assay was less than culture when assessed on faeces inoculated with Salmonella, its sensitivity on faecal samples obtained from horses was much greater than culture. Salmonella DNA was detected in 40% of faecal samples using the PCR assay while Salmonella were cultured from only 2% of the samples. The PCR assay has potential for use in either routine diagnosis or for detection of the carrier status in animals.     

Multiplex PCR for the diagnostic detection of Coxiella burnetii in cow's milk

A multiplex PCR based assay was developed for the highly sensitive and specific detection of Coxiella (C.) burnetii in cow's milk. The assay simultaneously amplifies a diagnostic target within the C. burnetii IS1111 sequence and a control target within the bovine CD18 gene. The internal PCR amplification control allows the discrimination of false negative results (single tube reaction failures) from negative results due to true absence of target sequences. In order to maximize the sensitivity of the assay, a sample preparation method including a centrifugation step to concentrate the bacterium was developed. In milk samples artificially contaminated with serial dilutions of C. burnetii, about four particles per ml could reproducibly be detected. The sensitivities of both assays, multiplex PCR and PCR with only a single pair of primers ('simplex' PCR), were observed to be similar.     

High seroprevalence of Histomonas meleagridis in Dutch layer chickens

Histomona meleagridis is a protozoan parasite that may cause outbreaks of histomonosis with high mortality, especially in turkey flocks. Chickens are less susceptible to the disease than are turkeys, but are considered to act as an important reservoir. To determine the seroprevalence of H. meleagridis in Dutch layer chicken flocks, a large scale seroepidemiologic study (3376 samples) was performed by sampling 12 organic flocks, 24 free-ranging flocks, 40 flocks with floor housing, and 40 flocks with cage housing. At the end of the laying period, approximately 30 blood samples per flock were collected for serology. The seroprevalence found was high. In every flock, at least one of the samples tested positive while in 87% of the flocks, at least one of the samples was strongly positive. There were no significant statistical differences in seropositivity between the housing types. To confirm the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) results, a small-scale seroepidemiologic study (576 samples) was performed in 29 additional layer chicken flocks kept in different housing systems. Subsequently, a subset of five seropositive flocks was selected. Five birds were obtained from each of these flocks in order to detect the parasite using culture and PCR. In all five flocks, H. meleagridis was either isolated from (culture), detected in (PCR), or both, the birds sampled. Together with the previously performed validation studies, the latter results confirm that the positive ELISA serology found is genuine. We conclude that the seroprevalence of H. meleagridis in layers is, as anticipated, high.     

猪肺炎支原体显色原位杂交研究方法的建立

为建立猪肺炎支原体(Mhp)显色原位杂交(CISH)定位检测方法,本研究利用地高辛标记的Mhp P36核酸探针和DAB/H2O2显色系统,对人工Mhp感染组、自然感染组和健康对照组的实验猪肺组织样品和临床样品进行显色原位杂交检测.结果显示,设计的地高辛标记探针针对Mhp具有特异性,而与其他的猪病原菌无交叉反应;检测结果可以通过显微镜观测到Mhp定位在支气管/细支气管黏膜表面.人工感染组、自然感染组和健康对照组的CISH结果与PCR检测结果一致,临床样品的CISH检测结果低于PCR检测结果.本研究建立的Mhp显色原位杂交法是一种集直观和敏感为一体的检测方法,可以用于Mhp的定位检测和致病机理研究.     

Detection of Histomonas meleagridis in turkeys cecal droppings by PCR amplification of the small subunit ribosomal DNA sequence

Histomonas meleagridis is a protozoan parasite that may cause histomoniasis, a disease of gallinaceous fowl characterized by necrotic typhlitis, hepatitis and high mortality. Diagnosis of this disease is based on direct identification or on cultivation of the parasite. With the aim of developing more sensitive, rapid and useful tools for parasite detection, PCR that amplified a DNA target of 209 pb of the 18S rRNA gene was designed to detect the genome of H. meleagridis and to differentiate it from the genome of Tetratrichomonas gallinarum, another common protozoan parasite of fowl. The sensitivity of the test was evaluated using serial diluted samples of cultured H. meleagridis and showed positive amplification for concentrations comprised between 10 and 10(-1)parasites/ml of culture. The sensitivity for cecal droppings samples was assessed using spiked material and was comprised between 3 x 10(3) and 3 x 10(5)parasites/ml of stool. The reliability of the PCR for the detection of Histomonas infection was also evaluated by experimental infection of turkeys. Results of the PCR appeared to be in agreement with the development of the clinical signs and of the cecal lesions. The PCR developed in this study may be a useful tool in the detection and identification of H. meleagridis for rapid, routine screening as a supplement to direct identification or cultivation of the parasite.     

基于18S rRNA的鸡组织滴虫病PCR诊断方法的建立

河南某鸡场约4周龄鸡疑似发生鸡组织滴虫病.根据鸡组织滴虫18 S rRNA序列设计引物,提取肝脏、盲肠内客物寄生虫DNA,采用PCR方法检测.结果表明,PCR扩增到与预期大小一致的产物,经测序比对,证实为鸡组织滴虫感染.所建立的PCR方法具有灵敏、特异、快速等优点,不仅能用于鸡组织滴虫病临床诊断,还能用于开展流行病学研...     

检测禽流感病毒抗体的重组核蛋白间接ELISA方法的建立

以大肠杆菌系统表达的H9N2亚型禽流感病毒（AIV）核蛋白（NP）为抗原，建立了禽流感间接酶联免疫吸附试验抗体检测技术（NP—ELISA）。对263份待检血清（包括临床收集的243份血清和20份H9N2亚型AIV免疫鸡阳性血清）进行检测，NP—ELISA与琼脂免疫扩散试验（AGP）的总符合率为83．3％，与血凝抑制试验（HI）的总符合率为92％。特异性试验表明，NP—ELISA方法可以检测H5、H7和H9亚型AIV特异性抗体，检测为阳性的血清样品能够被阳性鸡胚尿囊液阻断。敏感性试验证实，NP—ELISA最早可以检测鸡感染后7d的血清样品，并于感染后10d确定100％血清阳性，而AGP检测直到首免后21～28d才出现部分血清阳性，HI检测直到10～14d才出现部分血清阳性，并且NP-ELISA要比HI敏感4～40倍。试验证明，NP—ELISA是检测AIV血清型特异性抗体的一种特异、敏感、快速、经济的血清学检测技术。     

Detection of virulent strains of Streptococcus suis type 2 and highly virulent strains of Streptococcus suis type 1 in tonsillar specimens of pigs by PCR.

We developed a PCR assay for the rapid and sensitive detection of virulent Streptococcus suis type 2 and highly virulent S. suis type 1 in tonsillar specimens from pigs. The PCR primers were based on the sequence of the gene encoding the EF-protein of virulent S. suis type 2 strains (MRP+EF+) and highly virulent S. suis type 1 strains (MRP(s)EF+) and of the EF protein of weakly virulent S. suis type 2 strains (MRP+EF). The latter strains give rise to larger PCR products than the virulent strains of S. suis type 1 and 2. A positive control template was included in the assay to identify false negative results. The PCR was evaluated using tonsillar specimens from herds known (or suspected) to be infected and herds without an S. suis history. The results obtained with the PCR assay were compared with the results obtained with a newly developed bacteriological examination. In this bacteriological examination we were able to identify the EF-positive strains directly in the tonsillar specimens. From the 99 tonsils examined, 48 were positive in the PCR and 51 negative. All specimens from which EF-positive S. suis strains were isolated were also positive in the PCR assay. Three samples were positive in the PCR, but negative by bacteriological examination. The results demonstrated that the PCR is a highly specific and sensitive diagnostic tool for the detection of pigs carrying virulent strains of S. suis type 2 and highly virulent strains of type 1. Application of the assay may contribute to the control of S. suis infections.     

Evaluation of a TaqMan real-time PCR for the detection of Theileria parva in buffalo and cattle

A real-time PCR assay based on TaqMan probe chemistry was developed for the detection of Theileria parva DNA in blood samples. It uses a Theileria genus-specific PCR primer set and a T. parva-specific probe to amplify and hybridize with a species-specific part of the 18S rRNA gene of the parasite. The test was evaluated using positive and negative reference blood samples and shown to be specific for T. parva. Analytical sensitivity was determined by testing a dilution series of T. parva positive blood. It was shown to be able to detect parasitaemia as low as 2 × 10(-6)%. The Taqman assay results were also compared with that obtained with the real-time hybridization probe PCR assay, which is currently employed as the official test for the diagnosis of T. parva infections in buffalo and cattle and was shown to be equally sensitive. A panel of 1164 field samples was screened using both assays and 164 samples tested positive in both tests, indicating a good correlation.     

PCR detection of Tritrichomonas foetus in preputial bull fluid without prior DNA isolation

Tritrichomonosis is a widespread, economically important venereal disease caused by Tritrichomonas foetus. The traditional diagnosis of this disease, which causes infertility and abortion in cattle, is based on the culture of the parasite. This process is time consuming, has low sensitivity, and is prone to contamination with intestinal or coprophilic trichomonadid protozoa, resulting in false positive diagnostics of T. foetus. In order to avoid the shortcomings of the traditional method, we developed a simple PCR assay based on TFR3 and TFR4 primers, which does not require parasite culturing. The sensitivity of the PCR assay resulted comparable to that of the classical method, being able to detect as few as five T. foetus parasites. In addition the method is highly specific. The analysis of preputial fluid washing samples showed that 58 out of 203 samples were positive by both, the PCR and the culture method (+/+), 9 samples were positive by PCR and negative by the traditional method (+/-) and only one sample resulted negative by PCR and negative by culture (-/+). The samples for the PCR assay can be stored for a week at 4 degrees C or 72h at room temperature. In summary, our study demonstrated that the PCR assay is an effective method for the diagnosis of T. foetus from preputial samples, and that it compares advantageously to the classical method.     

H9亚型禽流感病毒和鸭坦布苏病毒二重PCR检测方法的建立

本试验旨在建立一种能同时快速检测H9亚型禽流感病毒(avian influenza virus,AIV)和鸭坦布苏病毒(duck Tembusu virus,DTMUV)的二重PCR检测方法。根据GenBank中H9亚型 AIV的HA基因和DTMUV的NS2基因序列,分别设计了1对针对H9亚型AIV和DTMUV保守基因序列的引物。利用这2对引物对混有H9亚型AIV和DTMUV的cDNA模板进行二重PCR扩增,得到了2个大小与试验设计相符的特异性扩增条带。利用本试验建立的二重PCR对其他鸭病病原体进行PCR扩增,结果均为阴性。利用这2对引物对H9亚型AIV和DTMUV进行敏感性检测,结果显示最低检测极限分别为6.3和 6.6 pg。对临床235份样品检测的结果表明该二重PCR检测方法具有快速、敏感、特异等优点,适用于临床检测的应用。     

PCR结合斑点杂交技术在检测禽网状内皮增生病毒中的应用

为评价PCR结合斑点杂交技术在鸡REV检测中的应用价值,采用PCR法制备禽网状内皮细胞增生症病毒特异性地高辛标记DNA探针,同时用PCR技术、斑点杂交方法和PCR产物斑点杂交方法检测了不同地区的病、死鸡的组织样品REV的感染情况。结果表明,PCR产物斑点杂交法的检出率(45.16%,14/31)高于组织DNA直接斑点杂交法(32.26%,10/31),显著高于单纯PCR扩增法(0%,0/31)。PCR结合斑点杂交检测技术能快速、敏感、准确,充分避免PCR中的假阴性和假阳性现象,值得推广应用。     

Design,optimization, and application of a conventional PCR assay with an internal control for detection of ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis’ 16S rDNA in domestic cats from Brazil

Background: ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis’ (CMtc) is a hemotrophic bacterial species that can, alone or in combination, induce anemia in cats. The diagnostic test of choice for hemoplasma infections is PCR. Conventional PCR assays have been developed for the detection of Mycoplasma haemofelis (Mhf) and ‘Candidatus M. haemominutum’ (CMhm) but not for CMtc. Although real‐time PCR assays have been reported for all of the feline hemoplasmas, the expense of necessary instrumentation precludes its use in Brazil and many other countries. Objectives: The goals of this study were to develop and optimize a conventional PCR assay to diagnose CMtc using an internal control to detect false‐negative results, and to evaluate the occurrence of CMtc infection in domestic cats from Brazil. Methods: Species‐specific primers were designed and a PCR assay was developed for the detection of CMtc 16S rDNA in cat blood. Sensitivity was determined by serial 10‐fold dilutions of plasmid and DNA extracted from blood from an experimentally infected cat. EDTA blood samples from 373 cats were collected. DNA was extracted using a silica‐based protocol and tested using the PCR assay. Results: Primer concentration, annealing temperature, and MgCl₂ concentration were optimized in the presence and absence of the internal control. Two samples negative for the internal control were excluded. Of the remaining 371 samples (117 healthy and 254 unhealthy cats), 17 (4.6%) were positive for CMtc. Conclusion: These results demonstrate the utility of an optimized PCR assay to detect CMtc in feline blood samples. We also report for the first time the prevalence of CMtc infection in domestic cats in Brazil.     

猪链球菌种与9型猪链球菌二重PCR检测方法的建立及应用

为了建立猪链球菌(Streptococcus suis,SS)种与9型猪链球菌(SS9)的快速诊断方法,本研究根据GenBank已登录的SS种特异性基因gdh和SS9型特异性基因CPS9H设计引物,以标准SS9株基因组DNA为模板,建立了SS种和SS9的二重PCR检测方法,并进行了特异性、敏感性和重复性试验;利用所建立的方法对检测疑似猪链球菌感染猪临床样品,并与常规细菌分离鉴定方法进行了比对。结果表明成功建立SS种和SS9型猪链球菌二重PCR检测方法,该方法的检测灵敏度可达100个CFU,特异性和重复性好;利用该方法对34份临床分离自疑似猪链球菌感染样品的细菌培养物进行了应用检测试验,其中有11份样品为gdh阳性,11份gdh阳性样品中有3份样品同时为SS9阳性。本研究成功建立了SS种与SS9型猪链球菌二重PCR检测方法,可用于猪链球菌种和SS9型猪链球菌的快速诊断。     

Sensitive and specific detection of Cryptosporidium species in PCR-negative samples by loop-mediated isothermal DNA amplification and confirmation of generated LAMP products by sequencing

Three LAMP (loop-mediated isothermal DNA amplification) assays were applied to detect Cryptosporidium species DNA in a total number of 270 fecal samples originating from cattle, sheep and horses in South Africa. DNA was extracted from 0.5 g of fecal material. Results of LAMP detection were compared to those obtained by nested PCR targeting the Cryptosporidium 18 small subunit rRNA (18S) gene. All samples were negative by nested PCR, while up to one-third of samples were positive by LAMP assays. The SAM-1 LAMP assay, shown to detect C. parvum, C. hominis and C. meleagridis, amplified Cryptosporidium DNA in 36 of 107 cattle (33.64%), in 26 of 85 sheep (30.5%) and in 17 of 78 horses (21.79%). The HSP LAMP specific to C. muris and C. andersoni, amplified Cryptosporidium DNA in one cow (0.9%), five sheep (5.8%) and seven horses (8.9%). The gp60 LAMP assay, shown to detect C. parvum produced no amplified Cryptosporidium DNA, likely due to low sample DNA concentrations. The specificity of LAMP assays was confirmed by sequencing of the LAMP products generated in positive samples. Sequence products from the three LAMP assays showed high identity to the target gene sequences confirming the specificity of LAMP. In this study, the LAMP procedure was clearly superior to nested PCR in the detection of Cryptosporidium species DNA. Use of LAMP is proposed as an efficient and effective tool for epidemiologic survey studies including screening of healthy animals in which Cryptosporidium oocyst shedding is characteristically low and likely below the detection limit of PCR in conventional sample concentrates.     

应用TaqMan荧光定量PCR检测牛分枝杆菌

为建立快速检测牛分枝杆菌(M.bovis)的TaqMan荧光定量PCR方法,本研究以GenBank登录的M.bovis特有229 bp基因为研究对象,设计并合成引物及探针。该方法具有较好的特异性,与标准质控菌株呈阳性反应,与其他微生物样品呈阴性反应;灵敏性最低检测值可达1 pg/mL;对20阳性临床样品进行荧光定量PCR检测,均为阳性;而对培养为阴性的20份临床样品进行检测,6份为阳性。该研究结果表明,建立的方法特异性强,敏感性高,稳定性好,能够用于M.bovis的鉴别检测,对牛分枝杆菌病的快速检测和早期诊断具有重要意义。     

Definitive ability of Stamp-staining,antigen-ELISA,PCR and cell culture for the detection of Coxiella burnetii

Many assays are used for the detection of the aetiological agent of Q fever, Coxiella burnetii, i.e. staining according to the method of Stamp, capture ELISA, PCR or isolation by cell culture. In this study the results of these four assays are compared for their sensitivity and specificity. Staining smears according to the method of Stamp gave many false positive or false negative results. The capture ELISA seems to be a very sensitive assay for the detection of Coxiella burnetii but it has a lack in specificity. It is a useful test system for the screening of large scales of samples. Positive ELISA results should be confirmed by PCR, a very sensitive and specific method for the detection of Coxiella burnetii but more time consumptive than the ELISA. Isolation of the agent using cell cultures was not completely satisfactory because of its lack in sensitivity. Therefore it should only be used in special cases.     

Development and validation of a real-time Taqman polymerase chain reaction assay for the detection of Mycoplasma gallisepticum in naturally infected birds

In this study, we report the development and validation of a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay using a Taqman-labeled probe for the detection of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MGLP assay). The MGLP assay was highly specific with a detection limit of 25 template copies per reaction and a quantification limit of 100 template copies per reaction. Validation of the assay was completed with 1247 samples (palatine cleft and tracheal swabs) from M. gallisepticum-positive and -negative chicken flocks. The MGLP assay was compared to an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), a conventional polymerase chain reaction assay (mgc2 PCR), and isolation of M. gallisepticum from naturally infected flocks. A total of 805 samples collected from negative flocks, as verified by ELISA and/or mgc2 PCR, were negative by the MGLP assay. A total of 442 samples were collected from positive flocks, of which a total of 228 samples were positive by the MGLP assay. These results agreed for 98.87% of the samples when tested by mgc2 PCR. When comparing the MGLP assay with M gallisepticum isolation, the MGLP assay was more sensitive than isolation for detecting positive birds from a positive flock, 172/265 and 50/265, respectively. Overall, the MGLP assay and M. gallisepticum isolation agreed for 52.8% of the samples tested. In conclusion, the MGLP assay was highly specific, sensitive, and reproducible, and allowed the quantification of template copies directly from clinical samples.