C. Schrader et J. Suss, A nested RT-PCR for the detection of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) in ticks in natural foci, ZBL BAKT, 289(3), 1999, pp. 319-328
Citations number
20
Categorie Soggetti
Microbiology
Journal title
ZENTRALBLATT FUR BAKTERIOLOGIE-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY VIROLOGY PARASITOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES
We have developed a sensitive nested reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain
reaction assay (n RT-PCR) for the detection of the tick-borne encephalitis
virus (TBEV) RNA, especially in ticks. The primer pairs were selected from
the 5'-terminal noncoding region, a highly conserved part of the virus. Th
e specificity was tested by computer homology searches of sequences as well
as by the sequencing of the first and second amplificate, by Southern blot
hybridization with a DIG-labelled oligonucleotide probe, and by restrictio
n enzyme analysis. The method has proved to be very sensitive. The detectio
n limit is about 20 fg of TBEV RNA per PCR run (25 mu l), or a single posit
ive tick, i.e. (adult or nymph).
The method can be used for comparative studies of the epidemiological situa
tion, as well as for the screening of natural foci for the presence and cir
culation of TBEV or for the detection of TBEV-genome-sequences in clinical
materials.