Real-time, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) has become one of the most widely used methods in the field of molecular diagnostics and research. The potential of this format to provide sensitive, specific and swift detection and quantification of viral RNAs has made it an indispensable tool for state-of-the-art diagnostics of important human and animal viral pathogens. In...

Dengue virus (DENV) is the agent of the most common vector-borne disease worldwide. Using 199 clinical samples collected from Nicaragua and Sri Lanka, a laboratory-developed DENV multiplex real-time reverse transcription-PCR (rRT-PCR) proved more clinically sensitive than the FDA-approved CDC assay for DENV serotypes 1 to 4 when measured against a composite reference standard, with sensitivitie...

successful disease management requires a rapid and sensitive diagnosis method that can recognize early infection even before the manifestation of its clinical signs. the only available field diagnostic tests for foot-and-mouth disease (fmd) are lateral flow devices, commonly known as chromatographic strips. low sensitivity and inability to detect fmd virus (fmdv) at the serotype level are limit...

as the world’s population continues to age, practitioners encounter increasing numbers of older patients with end-stage renal disease (esrd) who require renal replacement therapy (rrt). conservative management may be considered in older patients and has been shown to offer comparable survival rates and hospital-free days to rrt patients. at present, for those who choose rrt, hemodialysis is the...

The applicability of the commercial TaqVet CSFV real-time RT-PCR assay (TaqVet CSF) as a diagnostic tool for herd surveillance of classical swine fever (CSF) was evaluated in an experimental setup on a group of 28 pigs infected with a moderately virulent classical swine fever virus (CSFV) strain of wild boar origin (‘11722-WIL’). Based on the viral distribution determined in tissue by the real-...

BACKGROUND Molecular detection of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) using real-time reverse transcription (rRT)-PCR assays is the method of choice for diagnosis of MERS. We evaluated the performance of the PowerChek MERS (upE & ORF1a) real-time PCR Kit (PowerChek MERS assay; Kogene Biotech, Korea) a one-step rRT-PCR assay for the qualitative detection of MERS-CoV. METHOD...

BACKGROUND Longitudinal samples from two production sites were used to (1) describe the pattern of PEDV shedding (rRT-PCR) in individual rectal swabs, pen fecal samples, and pen oral fluids (OF); (2) describe the kinetics of PEDV antibody by ELISA (IgA, IgG) testing of pig serum and pen oral fluid samples; and (3) establish cutoffs and performance estimates for PEDV WV ELISAs (IgA, IgG). Site O...

Submit Manuscript | http://medcraveonline.com Abbreviations: AIDS: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome; AR: Attack Rate; ARI: Acute Respiratory Infections; aOR: Adjust Odd Ratio; CFP: Case Fatality Proportion; CFR: Case Fatality Rate; CI: Confidence Interval; DNA: Deoxyribonucleic Acid; HAART: Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy; HIV: Human Immunodeficiency Virus; ILI: Influenza-Like Illness; ...

OBJECTIVE To determine whether the novel avian influenza H7N9 virus can transmit from person to person and its efficiency. DESIGN Epidemiological investigations conducted after a family cluster of two patients with avian H7N9 in March 2013. SETTING Wuxi, Eastern China. PARTICIPANTS Two patients, their close contacts, and relevant environments. Samples from the patients and environments we...

BACKGROUND In the fall of 2014, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) subtype H5N8 clade 2.3.4.4 was introduced into North America by migrating waterfowl from Asia where, through reassortment, novel HPAI H5N2 and H5N1 viruses emerged. OBJECTIVES Assess the susceptibility of pigs to HPAI H5N1, H5N2, and H5N8 clade 2.3.3.3 from North America. METHODS Pigs and trachea explants were inoculat...