Specific detection of avian pneumovirus (APV) US isolates by RT-PCR

This report details the development of an RT-PCR assay for the specific det ection of US isolates of avian pneumovirus (APV). Of the several primer pai rs tested, two sets of primers derived from the matrix gene of APV were abl e to specifically detect the viral RNA of APV. The nucleotide sequence comp arison of the PCR products of APV isolates from Minnesota suggested that th ese viruses were closely related to the Colorado strain of APV, but were di stinct from subtypes A and B European isolates of turkey APV (turkey rhinot racheitis: TRT). This M gene-based PCR was found to be very specific and se nsitive. APV as low as 8 x 10(-5) TCID50 (0.0323 mu g/ml) could be detected using this assay. In addition, the two primers were able to differentiate isolates from turkeys in Minnesota.