Molecular analyses of the major viral agents that affect domestic animals

Abstract

There are many viral agents that affect domestic animals such as canine distemper virus, parvovirus, coronavirus, Hobi-like virus, among others, and each one of those has its molecular characteristic as well as genetic changes that make one strain more virulent that another. Thus, over the years we have seen outbreaks responsible for killing of animals, which makes molecular analysis an important tool for the rapid and accurate diagnosis of infectious diseases. Reverse-transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) allows the detection of viral agent's nucleic acid in infected animals. This stands out for being sensitive and specific, and, after standardization, is a useful tool in the etiologic diagnosis ante mortem of numerous viruses. The sensitivity, specificity and rapidity of RT-PCR compared with conventional diagnostic methods such as electron microscopy, virus isolation, immunofluorescence and ELISA, make the RT-PCR diagnostic test of choice. Thus, the development of molecular assay capable of identifying pathogens through products such as urine, feces, fetal bovine serum, etc, is important to ensure the biosafety of vaccines and other biological products, besides evaluating the molecular epidemiology of new strains of field. (AU)