RAPID DIAGNOSIS OF AVIAN INFECTIOUS-BRONCHITIS VIRUS BY THE POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION

A simple, sensitive and specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) proce dure was developed in order to detect infectious bronchitis virus (IBV ) directly in tissue samples. Viral RNA was extracted from allantoic f luids and cell cultures infected experimentally with different strains of IBV and from tissues of naturally infected birds. Viral RNA was th en amplified and identified by a nested RT-PCR assay using two sets of primers flanking a well-conserved region of the nucleocapsid gene. Th e selected IBV nucleocapsid sequence was detected successfully by simp le direct electrophoresis of amplified material. (C) 1997 Elsevier Sci ence B.V.