Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
9279385 Journal of Virological Methods 2005 5 Pages PDF
Abstract
The yatapoxvirus genus contains three members: tanapox virus (TPV), yaba-like disease virus (YLDV) and yaba monkey tumor virus (YMTV), two of which (TPV and YLDV) may infect humans. However, only a very small number of patients have been diagnosed with TPV outside Africa. Given the increased international travel and the similarity of clinical signs during the early stages of a TPV/YLDV infection as compared to diseases caused by agents of potential biological warfare, such as smallpox, monkeypox, tularemia and anthrax, the rapid and reliable recognition of a TPV/YLDV infection is crucial. A real-time PCR assay using TaqMan® chemistry was developed in order to identify unambiguously TPV/YLDV. Primers and probe targeting a 101 bp region of the PstI L fragment of TPV, initial optimisations steps were carried out with YLDV DNA as template. Using probit regression analysis, the lower limit of detection was calculated to be ca. 8 copies per assay. A total of five TPV strains, one YDLV strain and scab-derived DNA from a patient with a TPV infection yielded specific amplification, whereas the DNA of YMTV was not amplified. Various viral and bacterial pathogens (n = 29) associated with rash-causing illnesses were not detected using this assay.
Related Topics
Life Sciences Immunology and Microbiology Virology
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