Equine infectious anemia (EIA) is a viral disease affecting the horse whose diagnosis is mainly based on serological tests. Coggins test (AGID) is the official tool for diagnosis but, although having a remarkable specificity, it allows detection only after a positive antibody production that can occur several months after infection. The aim of this study was to combine common serological tests with effective molecular diagnostic tools (PCR RT-PCR) in order to detect the infection at an early stage where viremia is higher and the affected animals could represent a problem for diffusion of the infection. The variability of the gag viral gene was also analyzed in order to identify and characterize the strains circulating in our country. 124 blood samples from horses with or without clinical signs were evaluated; from these samples, viral DNA (provirus) or, in some cases, viral RNA was extracted, sequenced and analyzed.
Approccio biomolecolare alla diagnosi di Anemia Infettiva Equina
PASSAMONTI, Fabrizio;CAPPELLI, Katia;CAPOMACCIO, STEFANO;FELICETTI, MICHELA;MARENZONI, Maria Luisa;COPPOLA, GIACOMO;VERINI SUPPLIZI, Andrea;COLETTI, Mauro
2009
Abstract
Equine infectious anemia (EIA) is a viral disease affecting the horse whose diagnosis is mainly based on serological tests. Coggins test (AGID) is the official tool for diagnosis but, although having a remarkable specificity, it allows detection only after a positive antibody production that can occur several months after infection. The aim of this study was to combine common serological tests with effective molecular diagnostic tools (PCR RT-PCR) in order to detect the infection at an early stage where viremia is higher and the affected animals could represent a problem for diffusion of the infection. The variability of the gag viral gene was also analyzed in order to identify and characterize the strains circulating in our country. 124 blood samples from horses with or without clinical signs were evaluated; from these samples, viral DNA (provirus) or, in some cases, viral RNA was extracted, sequenced and analyzed.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
