RESEARCH COMMUNICATION

 

A rapid and sensitive real-time reverse transcription PCR for the pathotyping of South African H5N2 avian influenza viruses

 

 

C. Abolnik

ARC-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Private Bag X5, Onderstepoort, 0110 South Africa

 

 

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ABSTRACT

A Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) real-time reverse-transcription (rRT-PCR) assay was developed that distinguishes stains of South African and European highly pathogenic (HPAI) from low pathogenicity (LPAI) H5 avian influenza viruses in the absence of virus isolation, irrespective of the length of insertion at the hemagglutinin cleavage site (H₀). The assay was used to pathotype H5-type viruses detected by rRT-PCR in ostrich tracheal swabs collected during the 2006 HPAI H5N2 outbreak in the Western Cape Province.

Keywords: Avian influenza virus, H5N2, pathotyping, real-time reverse transcription PCR, FRET

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Accepted for publication 10 June 2008-Editor