Development of a novel TaqMan-based real-time PCR assay for the detection of porcine boca-like virus (Pbo-likeV)

• Published in: Virology journal 2011-07, Vol.8 (1), p.357-357, Article 357
• Main Authors: Li, Bin, Xiao, Shaobo, Ma, Junjie, Liu, Yanling, Mao, Li, Wen, Libin, Mao, Aihua, Zhang, Xuehan, Ni, Yanxiu, Guo, Rongli, Zhou, Junming, Yu, Zhengyu, Lv, Lixin, Wang, Xiaomin, Fang, Liurong, Chen, Huanchun, He, Kongwang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Bocavirus - isolation & purification; Clinical Laboratory Techniques - methods; Diseases; DNA Primers - genetics; DNA, Viral - genetics; Genetic aspects; Oligonucleotide Probes - chemistry; Oligonucleotide Probes - genetics; Parvoviridae Infections - diagnosis; Parvoviridae Infections - veterinary; Parvoviridae Infections - virology; Parvoviruses; Polymerase chain reaction; Polymerase Chain Reaction - methods; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity; Short Report; Swine; Swine Diseases - diagnosis; Swine Diseases - virology; Viral Nonstructural Proteins - genetics; Virology - methods
• ISSN: 1743-422X; 1743-422X
• DOI: 10.1186/1743-422X-8-357

The recently discovered porcine boca-like virus (Pbo-likeV) is a member of the Parvoviridae family, genus Bocavirus, and it is potentially associated with swine disease. Several studies have associated Pbo-likeV with postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome in pigs, but the full spectrum of clinical disease and the epidemiology of Pbo-likeV infection remain unclear. The availability of rapid and reliable molecular diagnostics would aid future studies of this novel virus. Thus, we developed a sensitive and specific TaqMan-based real-time PCR assay to target the Pbo-likeV NP1 gene. The assay reproducibly detected 20 copies of a recombinant DNA plasmid containing the NP1 gene, with a dynamic range of six orders of magnitude (10(2)-10(7) copies). The assay did not cross-react with other animal viruses. Clinical evaluation found that Pbo-likeV was present in Chinese swine herds at a frequency of 44.2% (114/258). Higher infection rates were found in diseased pigs (56.1%, 101/180) compared with healthy pigs (16.7%, 13/78) (P < 0.05). Our assay for the diagnosis and quantification of Pbo-likeV was highly sensitive and specific, and should provide a reliable real-time tool for epidemiological and pathogenetic study of Pbo-likeV infection.