Diagnosis of feline haemoplasma infection in Australian cats using a real-time PCR assay

A total of 147 cats from the Sydney area of Australia that had blood samples submitted to veterinary laboratories were tested using a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay able to detect and distinguish the two feline haemoplasma species. This sample number included two cats diagnosed with feline haemoplasma infection by routine blood smear examination. Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate associations between haemoplasma infection, age, sex, breed, haematocrit (HCT) values and anaemia status. One hundred and six cats (72.1%) were negative. Thirty-four cats (23.1%) were positive for 'Candidatus M. haemominutum', six cats (4.1%) were positive for M. haemofelis and one cat (0.7%) was positive for both species. Older, male, non-pedigree cats, with lower HCT values were more likely to be infected with 'Candidatus M. haemominutum'. Significant inverse correlation was found between the amount of M. haemofelis DNA present in the blood and the HCT value. This report documents the existence of, and prevalence of, both haemoplasma species in a sample of cats in Australia and is the first to use quantitative real-time PCR in a prevalence study for haemoplasma infection.     

Use of combined conventional and real-time PCR to determine the epidemiology of feline haemoplasma infections in northern Italy

Although knowledge of feline haemotropic mycoplasmas (haemoplasmas) has dramatically improved in recent years, some issues still remain to be elucidated. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the prevalence of feline haemoplasma infections in blood samples collected from cats in northern Italy. A convenience-sample of 307 cats (40 anaemic; 258 non-anaemic; nine with unknown haematocrit [HCT]) was investigated using polymerase chain reaction assays. Furthermore, the date of blood collection, signalment and clinicopathological data were retrospectively evaluated to assess predictors and risk factors for infection. Haemoplasma infections were highly prevalent in the sample investigated with an overall prevalence of 18.9% (95% confidence interval: 14.5-23.3%). The prevalence for the three feline haemoplasmas was 17.3% for 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum' (CMhm), 5.9% for Mycoplasma haemofelis (Mhf) and 1.3% for 'Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis' (CMt). Feline immunodeficiency virus-positive status represented a risk factor for infection with an odds ratio of 4.19 (P=0.02). Moreover, a higher prevalence was observed in summer (odds ratio 1.78; P=0.04) which may be consistent with arthropod-borne disease transmission. Cats infected with Mhf showed significantly lower HCT (P=0.03), haemoglobin values (P=0.02) and red blood cell counts (P=0.04), lower mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (P<0.01) and higher white blood cell counts (P<0.01) when compared with non-infected cats.     

Diagnosis of feline leukaemia virus infection by semi-quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction

In this paper the design and use of a semi-quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assay (RT-PCR) for feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) provirus is described. Its performance is evaluated against established methods of FeLV diagnosis, including virus isolation and enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) in a population of naturally infected cats. The RT-PCR assay is found to have both a high sensitivity (0.92) and specificity (0.99) when examined by expectation maximisation methods and is also able to detect a large number of cats with low FeLV proviral loads that were negative by other conventional test methods.     

Detection of fluoroquinolone resistance level in clinical canine and feline Escherichia coli pathogens using rapid real-time PCR assay

Fluoroquinolones are used to treat infections caused by Escherichia coli in canine and feline veterinary patients, particularly those infecting the urinary tract. The gyrA gene is a primary target causing fluoroquinolone resistance in Gram negative coliforms, with mutations in codons 83 and 87 generally associated with high-level of resistance E. coli clinical isolates. We have developed a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) quantitative PCR to identify enrofloxacin-resistance in clinical E. coli isolates that carry mutations in codons 83 and 87 of gyrA. This real-time quantitative PCR assay is rapid, economical, and sensitive compared with cultured antimicrobial susceptibility testing. The assay identified as few as four genome copies per reaction from culture and 19 genome copies in urine. For the 70 isolates tested, the sensitivity was 87.5% (95% CI = 75–95.3%) (n = 42/48), specificity was 100% (95% CI = 87.3–100%) (n = 22/22), whereas accuracy was 91.4% (95% CI = 82.3–97%) (n = 64/70). Furthermore, we were able to accurately differentiate between the wild type and mutants E. coli directly from infected canine urine samples (n = 5) within 2 h. These results were confirmed by sequence alignments of the PCR products and comparison with the susceptibility testing. The FRET-PCR assay appears to have promising clinical application as an early diagnostic tool for rapid and sensitive detection and differentiation of the level of fluoroquinolone resistance among clinical E. coli isolates that may facilitate design of the dosing regimen.     

Diagnosis of feline viral infection

A diagnosis of a specific viral disease in the cat involves a combination of an accurate history, careful observation of disease signs, demonstration of characteristic clinical pathologic changes, and isolation or identification of the virus. Isolation or identification of a virus from the patient does not establish that the disease observed was caused by the virus so isolated or identified; correlation and proper interpretation of all findings are necessary to establish a diagnosis. Virus identification may involve office laboratory tests, such as cytology or ELISA, or more specialized procedures. Whether specimens are to be sent out for specialized tests or office laboratory procedures are to be used, the veterinary practitioner must not only know what specimens are required but must also understand the test and be able to properly interpret the results in light of the patient's observed condition.     

A quantitative real-time PCR assay for Ehrlichia ruminantium using pCS20

Heartwater is a tick borne disease that affects ruminants and wild animals in Africa south of the Sahara. It is caused by Ehrlichia ruminantium and transmitted by the tick Amblyomma hebraeum. The protocols currently used to detect heartwater take several days to complete. Here, we describe the development of a pCS20 quantitative real-time PCR TaqMan probe assay to detect E. ruminantium in livestock blood and ticks from the field. The assay is based on the conserved pCS20 gene region of E. ruminantium that contains two overlapping genes, rnc and ctaG [Collins, N.E., Liebenberg, J., De Villiers, E.P., Brayton, K.A., Louw, E., Pretorius, A., Faber, F.E., Van Heerden, H., Josemans, A., Van Kleef, M., Steyn, H.C., Van Strijp, M.F., Zweygarth, E., Jongejan, F., Maillard, J.C., Berthier, D., Botha, M., Joubert, F., Corton, C.H., Thomson, N.R., Allsopp, M.T., Allsopp, B.A., 2005. The genome of the heartwater agent Ehrlichia ruminantium contains multiple tandem repeats of actively variable copy number. PNAS 102, 838-843]. The pCS20 quantitative real-time PCR TaqMan probe was compared to the currently used pCS20 PCR and PCR/(32)P-probe test with regards to sensitivity, specificity and the ability to detect DNA in field samples and in blood from experimentally infected sheep. This investigation showed that the pCS20 quantitative real-time PCR TaqMan probe was the most sensitive assay detecting seven copies of DNA/mul of cell culture. All three assays, however, cross react with Ehrlichia canis and Ehrlichia chaffeensis. The pCS20 real-time PCR detected significantly more positive field samples. Both the PCR and pCS20 real-time PCR could only detect E. ruminantium parasites in the blood of experimentally infected sheep during the febrile reaction. The PCR/(32)P-probe assay, however, detected the parasite DNA 1 day before and during the febrile reaction. Thus, because this new quantitative pCS20 real-time PCR TaqMan probe assay was the most sensitive and can be performed within 2h it is an effective assay for epidemiological surveillance and monitoring of infected animals.     

鹅圆环病毒实时荧光定量PCR检测方法的建立

为建立鹅圆环病毒(GoCV)快速检测方法,本研究根据GenBank中登录的GoCV全长基因组序列,在其保守基因区设计并合成1对引物,采用荧光嵌合法(SYBR GreenⅠ)建立检测GoCV的实时荧光定量PCR(real-time PCR)方法。以本实验室构建的含有GoCV永康株(GoCV-yk01)全长基因组的重组质粒为标准模板,经退火温度、循环次数等反应条件的优化,绘制GoCV real-time PCR的标准曲线,并进行融解曲线分析。试验结果表明:建立的GoCV real-time PCR方法特异性强,检测范围广(Ct值范围12～32),最低检出病毒拷贝数为1.46×102。该方法能够对组织中病毒进行定量检测,为快速检测GoCV提供了有效的技术手段。     

布鲁菌Cycling探针荧光定量PCR检测方法的建立

根据布鲁菌BCSP31基因序列设计布鲁菌通用检测引物和探针,建立了布鲁菌Cycling探针荧光定量PCR检测方法。以构建的含BCSP31基因的质粒标准品10倍递进稀释为模板检测其敏感性,结果显示,本方法能检测约10个拷贝的阳性质粒,且标准曲线的线性关系良好。用本方法检测5株不同种的布鲁菌以及猪大肠杆菌K99、巴氏杆菌C48-1、猪链球菌ST171、绿脓杆菌等4株对照菌。结果显示,5株不同种的布鲁菌均出现典型的"S"型扩增曲线,4株对照菌40个循环内均无CT值出现。用本方法和B4/B5-PCR方法对来自布鲁菌病流行地区3个不同牛场的40份血样、奶样和血清样进行平行检测。结果显示,本方法和B4/B5-PCR方法的结果符合率为80.0%。B4/B5-PCR检测为阳性的27份样品经本方法检测均为阳性;B4/B5-PCR检测为阴性的13份样本,经本方法检测,其中8份呈阳性,5份为阴性。本方法的敏感性明显高于B4/B5-PCR方法。试验表明,所建立的Cycling探针荧光定量PCR方法具有敏感、特异、稳定等特点,可用于布鲁菌感染的快速检测。     

羊痘病毒实时荧光定量TaqManPCR检测方法的建立

参照羊痘病毒（CaPV）P32的基因序列，设计合成了2套引物和1条探针，建立了实时荧光定量PCR技术，对细胞培养物、皮肤丘疹、痂皮等组织病料中的GPV进行了特异性检测和敏感性试验。结果显示，用300nmol／L引物浓度和200nmol／L探针浓度，获得的CT值较小，而△Rn最大；可检测到相当于0．1TCID50的病毒DNA；制作的标准曲线中各浓度范围内有极好的线性关系且线性范围宽，相关系数为0．9995以上；组内和组间试验重复性的变异系数分别为2．3％和3．4％；与常规的PCR相比较，该方法具有快速、特异、敏感、可定量，可同时检测大量样品等优点。表明，荧光TaqMan PCR是一种检测CaPV的良好方法，可对组织病料中低含量的CaPV或持续带毒宿主进行准确检测。     

实时荧光定量PCR检测猪细小病毒

根据已报道的猪细小病毒基因组序列,设计并合成了引物和探针,从猪细小病毒(PPV)感染的细胞中提取DNA,经PCR扩增,产物纯化后与pGEM-T-easy连接,转化大肠杆菌JM109,筛选后得到重组标准品质粒,对重组标准品质粒进行PCR和测序鉴定,表明目的片段已经成功克隆.将104～108拷贝反应的重组标准品质粒进行荧光定量PCR,系统自动分析软件显示Ct值与标准品浓度的对数之间存在良好的线性关系.动力学曲线分析表明,在该反应体系和反应条件下,标准曲线的灵敏度为102拷贝.本方法的建立为猪细小病毒感染的早期诊断奠定了基础.     

Detection of feline norovirus using commercial real-time RT-PCR kit for the diagnosis of human norovirus infection

Feline noroviruses (FNoVs) are potential clinical pathogens in cats. To perform an epidemiological study of FNoV infection, it is necessary to develop a simple and effective method for virus detection. We investigated whether a commercial human NoV quantitative RT-PCR kit for the detection of human NoVs used in medical practice can be applied for FNoV detection. This kit was capable of detecting the FNoV gene regardless of the genogroup (GIV and GVI) in experimental and field samples. Based on the above findings, it is possible to detect FNoVs using human NoV tests. The relationship between FNoV infection and gastroenteritis in cats may be clarified by applying these methods to an epidemiological survey of FNoVs.     

Taqman探针荧光定量PCR快速检测猪圆环病毒2型

猪圆环病毒(PCV)为圆环病毒科圆环病毒属成员,单股环状DNA病毒,为已知的最小动物病毒之一[1]。PCV存在两种血清型,即PCV1和PCV2,两者的细胞培养物均不产生细胞病变。PCV2首先由Allan等[2]从患断奶猪多系统衰竭综合征(PMWS)的猪群中分离到,被证明为PMWS的重要病原之一。此病主要     

牛巴贝斯虫实时荧光PCR检测方法的建立

为建立牛巴贝斯虫(B.bovis)的TaqMan实时荧光PCR检测方法,本研究根据GenBank中B.bovis的18S rRNA基因保守序列,设计引物和TaqMan探针,通过优化反应体系,建立检测B.bovis的实时荧光PCR方法.试验结果表明:实时荧光PCR对靶基因的最低检测值为1.31×101 copies/μL,比常规PCR的敏感性高1 000倍;而且与牛的其他血液原虫无交叉反应;组内及组间重复性试验的变异系数均小于3％,具有良好的重复性;在23份被检样品中,实时荧光PCR和常规PCR的检出率分别为52.17％和30.43％.该检测方法的建立为B.bovis的检测提供了一种快速、敏感、特异的技术手段.     

鹿布鲁氏菌实时荧光定量PCR检测方法的建立

本研究依据布鲁氏菌的特异性基因Omp25c的部分片段作为靶基因,设计探针引物,且优化了反应体系,筛选出引物、探针的最优浓度配比。将扩增产物连接到PGEM-T载体上,制备标准品及标准曲线,建立鹿布鲁氏菌荧光定量PCR检测方法,并对其特异性、稳定性、敏感性进行评价。由标准曲线可知该方法的最低检测浓度可达到36拷贝/μL,比常规PCR灵敏度高出很多。     

猪附红细胞体实时荧光定量PCR检测方法的建立

参照猪附红细胞体16S rRNA基因序列设计了1对引物，分别以标准株和分离株的基因组DNA为模板，采用SYBR GreenⅠ实时荧光定量PCR方法检测猪附红细胞体，确定特异性产物的Tm值，同时做普通PCR。试验结果表明，特异性产物的Tm值为88．5℃，最低能检测到含0．036fg／μL阳性质粒的标准品。以阳性质粒标准品10倍倍比稀释的模板进行实时荧光定量PCR，通过对反应体系和反应条件进行筛选和优化，建立了检测猪附红细胞体的标准曲线。建立的SYBR Green Ⅰ实时荧光定量PCR检测方法显示了较好的特异性、敏感性和广谱性，为猪附红细胞体病的临床检测和流行情况调查提供了新的技术手段。     

鲤科疱疹病毒2型TaqMan荧光定量PCR检测方法的建立

为建立快速和敏感的检测鲤科疱疹病毒2型(CyHV-2)的方法,本研究根据CyHV-2 DNA聚合酶基因序列合成引物和TaqMan探针,建立了CyHV-2荧光定量PCR检测方法.结果显示,以重组质粒为标准品建立的标准曲线在5拷贝/μL～5×108拷贝/μL具有良好的线性关系,相关系数为0.999;其最低检出量为5拷贝/μL,比普通PCR的敏感度高100倍.该方法仅对CyHV-2的靶基因序列进行扩增,而对锦鲤疱疹病毒、流行性造血器官坏死病病毒、病毒性出血性败血症病毒、传染性胰脏坏死病病毒及鲤春病毒血症病毒核酸扩增结果均为阴性.组内和组间重复试验变异系数的平均值分别为0.5％和0.3％,具有良好的重复性.与常规PCR相比较,该方法具有快速、敏感、特异及高通量检测等优点,适用于对CyHV-2的快速检测.