A multiplex reverse transcription-nested polymerase chain reaction for detection and differentiation of wild-type and vaccine strains of canine distemper virus

Si, Wei; Zhou, Shun; Wang, Zhao; Cui, Shang-jin

A large number of dogs, minks, foxes die from CDV infections every year, causing significant economic losses [2] . Previous studies [3, 4] have reported that vaccinated dogs were infected with CDV in Europe and Japan. Harder et al. also reported that there are marked differences between wild-type and vaccine strains of CDV [5] , thus whether CDV vaccine strains are able to provide protection from the current strains of CDV remains a question. It is difficult and necessary to discriminate between wild-type and vaccine strains because the attenuated CDV vaccine is used widely in China. So a method to specifically detect the wild-type CDV strains is necessary. The multiplex reverse transcription-nested polymerase chain reaction (RT-nPCR) method could be used to effectively detect and differentiate between wild-type CDV-infected dogs from dogs which were vaccinated with CDV vaccine, which would make it useful in clinical diagnosis and epidemiological monitoring. (5'-AAATCCTGTGTTAC-CCGCTC-3'), P2 (5'-TGGTGGCTCTGCAATATGAA-3'), and P3 (5'-AATGAATGGATGCCTGGGGTTT-3') were used as the primer specific for CDV species, wildtype strains, and vaccine strain Onderstepoort, respectively.