Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How to diagnose canine distemper using immunofluorescence and PCR
By Jóźwik, A & Frymus, T·Published in Veterinary research communications·2005·Department of Clinical Sciences·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Comparison of the immunofluorescence assay with RT-PCR and nested PCR in the diagnosis of canine distemper.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 23 dogs suspected of having canine distemper were tested using different methods to see which could detect the virus most effectively. The results showed that nested PCR was the most sensitive test, identifying the virus in 12 dogs, while the direct immunofluorescence test found it in only six dogs, and the standard RT-PCR detected it in just two. This suggests that if your dog shows symptoms of distemper, like coughing or discharge from the eyes and nose, a nested PCR test might be the best option for accurate diagnosis. Early detection is crucial for effective treatment and recovery.
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Abstract
Two pairs of primers were prepared, both localized within the sequences of the nucleoprotein gene (NP) of canine distemper virus (CDV). A number of experiments were done to optimize the conditions of RT-PCR and nested PCR methods. The nucleic acids of the Onderstepoort, Rockborn, Snyder Hill and Lederle strains of CDV could be detected with these primers. However, they did not react with the sequences of the Edmonston strain of the measles virus. The detection limit for RT-PCR was 10 TCID50 and for nested PCR 0.1 TCID50 of CDV. The RT-PCR was able to demonstrate the nucleic acid of CDV in the blood of all seven puppies vaccinated with a modified live virus. Blood samples of 23 dogs clinically suspected of distemper were examined by RT-PCR combined with nested PCR, and the results were compared with the detection of the CDV antigen in the smears from the mucous membranes by the direct immunofluorescence (IF) test. Of the 23 dogs, 12 were positive in nested PCR, six in the IF assay, and only two in single RT-PCR. It is concluded that nested PCR seems to be the most sensitive method for ante-mortem diagnosis of canine distemper, especially in its subacute or chronic forms.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15751584/