Diagnosis of canine coronavirus infection using nested-PCR

The results of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and nested polymerase chain reaction (n-PCR) assays for the diagnosis of canine coronavirus (CCV) infec tion, and the comparison with other diagnostic techniques, such as electron microscopy (EM) and virus isolation using A-72 cell line are reported. The study was carried out on 71 faecal samples of pups with enteritis. Of 71 s amples examined 14 were positive in PCR, whereas 30 samples resulted positi ve in the n-PCR assay. CCV was detected by EM examination in only four out of 45 samples, and by virus isolation in three out of 30 samples n-PCR posi tive. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.