Development of a nested PCR assay for the detection of canine coronavirus

A diagnostic test for canine coronavirus (CCV) infection based on a nested polymerase chain reaction (n-PCR) assay was developed and tested using the following coronavirus strains: CCV (USDA strain), CCV (45/93, held strain), feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV, field strain), trasmissible gas troenteritis virus (TGEV, Purdue strain), bovine coronavirus (BCV, 9WBL-77 strain), infectious bronchitis virus (IBV, M-41 strain) and fecal samples o f dogs with CCV enteritis. A 230-bp segment of the gene encoding for transm embrane protein M of CCV is the target sequence of the primer. The test des cribed in the present study was able to amplify both CCV and TGEV strains a nd also gave positive results on fecal samples from CCV infected dogs. n-PC R has a sensitivity as high as isolation on cell cultures, and can therefor e be used for the diagnosis of CCV infection in dogs. (C) 1999 Elsevier Sci ence B.V. All rights reserved.