Rapid diagnosis of goose viral infections by multiplex PCR

Goose parvovirus (GPV), newcastle disease virus (NDV), goose herpesvirus (GHV) and goose adenovirus (GAV) are considered collectively to be four of the most important and widespread viruses of geese. Because all of these viruses cause similar pathological changes, histological differentiation among these viruses is difficult. A reliable, specific and sensitive multiplex PCR (mPCR) assay was developed for the combined detection of GPV, NDV, GHV and GAV in clinical samples of geese. Using the mPCR technique, single infections with GPV (28/76; 36.8%), NDV (9/76; 11.8%), GHV (3/76; 3.9%) and GAV (12/76; 15.8%) were identified in the samples; co-infections with GAV and either GPV or NDV (31.6%; 24/76) were also identified with this approach. The results for all of the samples tested were the same in both the uPCR and mPCR systems. The mPCR approach is considered to be useful for routine molecular diagnosis and epidemiological applications in geese.

► The multiplex PCR allows simultaneous detection of four of the most important and wide spread viruses of geese.
► The multiplex PCR assay was sensitive for detection of virus infection in geese.
► The PCR specificity was confirmed by DNA sequencing.
► This method is useful for routine molecular diagnosis and epidemiology of four virus infections of geese.