Development of duplex real-time PCR assay based on C18L and DNA pol genes for rapid diagnosis of camel pox in dromedary camels.

Shehata, Amir A; ElNahas, Ehab M; Abo Hatab, Eman M.; Ali, Saad Sharawi; Ahmed, Hanaa A.

doi:10.21608/bvmj.2021.78296.1423

Development of duplex real-time PCR assay based on C18L and DNA pol genes for rapid diagnosis of camel pox in dromedary camels.

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Genome Research Unit, Animal Health Research Institute

² Virology Department, Faculty of veterinary medicine, Benha University

³ Virology Department, Animal Health Research Institute.

⁴ Department of virology , faculty of veterinary medicine, benha university

⁵ Genome Research unit, Animal Health Research Institute

10.21608/bvmj.2021.78296.1423

Abstract

Camel pox is a viral contagious notifiable zoonotic disease causing variable rates of mortality, morbidity and cutaneous lesions in camels and humans. It caused by camelpox virus (CMLV), an orthopoxvirus and can be fatal in young camels. Confirmative, rapid and sensitive diagnostic techniques are required for accurate diagnosis of the disease, so in the present study, a duplex real-time PCR assay was developed for rapid detection of camelpox virus (CMLV) based on targeting both C18L and DNA pol genes. The detection limit was 0.4 pg and 4 pg of viral DNA for C18L and DNA pol genes, respectively. The duplex assay detected CMLV DNA in different types of spiked samplesand providesa rapid diagnostic tool for camel pox especiallyin borders where testing of large number of animals during importation and exportation is applied. Further evaluation of the assay on other clinical samples or samples from experimentally infected animal may be required.

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