Establishment and validation of two duplex one-step real-time RT-PCR assays for diagnosis of foot-and-mouth disease

Two duplex one-step TaqMan-based RT-PCR protocols for detection of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) were established and validated. Each RT-PCR test consists of a ready-to-use master mix for simultaneous detection of the well established 3D or IRES FMDV targets and incorporates the host β-actin mRNA as an internal control target, in a single-tube assay. The two real-time RT-PCR 3D/β-actin and IRES/β-actin tests are highly sensitive and able to detect up to 7 TCID50/ml of FMDV and 10 copies/1 μl of viral RNA. In field epithelium samples, the diagnostic sensitivity was 100% (95% CI; 91-100%) for the 3D/β-actin test and 97% (95% CI; 87-100%) for the IRES/β-actin test. The diagnostic specificity was 100% (95% CI; 95-100%) for both RT-PCRs. In addition, the two protocols proved to be robust, showing inter-assay coefficients of variation ranging from 1.94% to 6.73% for the IRES target and from 2.33% to 5.42% for the 3D target for different RNA extractions and different RT-PCR conditions. The internally controlled one-step real-time RT-PCR protocols described in this study provide a rapid, effective and reliable method for the detection of FMDV and thus may improve the routine diagnosis for foot-and-mouth disease.