Definitive identification of louping ill virus by RT-PCR and sequencing in field populations of Ixodes ricinus on the Lochindorb estate

Arch Virol. 1997;142(6):1181-91. doi: 10.1007/s007050050151.

Abstract

Rapid and precise virus detection procedures are an important component of any epizootiological study. An automated one tube reverse transcriptase and nested primer polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) followed by nucleotide sequencing of the cDNA product, was used for the rapid detection and identification of louping ill (LI) virus in field caught Ixodes ricinus and compared with a classical isolation method i.e. infectivity in cell culture. The results establish the genetic identity of LI virus on the Lochindorb Estate. There was a high correlation between the results obtained by RT-PCR and infectivity assays. RT-PCR and sequencing proved to be a rapid and accurate system for identifying LI virus in field specimens. Development of this system should improve the capacity to undertake detailed epizootiological studies of LI virus.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Viral
  • Base Sequence
  • Cricetinae
  • DNA, Viral
  • Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne / classification*
  • Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne / genetics
  • Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne / isolation & purification
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect
  • Genetic Variation
  • Ixodes / virology*
  • Mesocricetus
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction*
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / genetics

Substances

  • Antigens, Viral
  • DNA, Viral
  • Viral Envelope Proteins
  • NEG envelope glycoprotein, Negishi virus