RT-PCR assays for seven serotypes of epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus & their use to type strains from the Mediterranean region and North America

Maan, N. S. et al. (2010) RT-PCR assays for seven serotypes of epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus & their use to type strains from the Mediterranean region and North America. PLoS ONE, 5(9), e12782. (doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0012782) (PMID:20862243) (PMCID:PMC2941451)

Abstract

Epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) infects wild ruminants, causing a frequently fatal haemorrhagic disease. However, it can also cause bluetongue-like disease in cattle, involving significant levels of morbidity and mortality, highlighting a need for more rapid and reliable diagnostic assays. EHDV outer-capsid protein VP2 (encoded by genome-segment 2 [Seg-2]) is highly variable and represents the primary target for neutralising antibodies generated by the mammalian host. Consequently VP2 is also the primary determinant of virus “serotype”, as identified in virus neutralisation tests (VNT). Although previous reports have indicated eight to ten EHDV serotypes, recent serological comparisons and molecular analyses of Seg-2 indicate only seven EHDV “types”. Oligonucleotide primers were developed targeting Seg-2, for use in conventional RT-PCR assays to detect and identify these seven types. These assays, which are more rapid and sensitive, still show complete agreement with VNT and were used to identify recent EHDV isolates from the Mediterranean region and North America.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Nomikou, Dr Kyriaki
• Authors: Maan, N. S., Maan, S., Nomikou, K., Johnson, D. J., El Harrak, M., Madani, H., Yadin, H., Incoglu, S., Yesilbag, K., Allison, A. B., Stallknecht, D. E., Batten, C., Anthony, S. J., and Mertens, P. P. C.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity > Centre for Virus Research
• Journal Name: PLoS ONE
• Publisher: Public Library of Science
• ISSN: 1932-6203
• ISSN (Online): 1932-6203
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2010 The Authors
• First Published: First published in PLoS ONE 5(9): e12782
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License