National Institute of Animal Health (NIAH)

Topics in Animal Health Research 2008

02. Genotyping of bovine coronaviruses using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (RT-PCR/RFLP)

Japanese

  Molecular analysis of the polymorphic region of the bovine coronavirus (BCoV)-S gene using recent Japanese field isolates and reference strains revealed that the 174 isolates collected from 1999 to 2008 from 14 prefectures, covering all regions of Japan (Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto, Chubu, Kinki, Chugoku, Shikoku, and Kyusyu regions) and divided into 3 clusters, show distinctive divergence from the prototype enteric BCoV strains. Almost all isolates after 2005 were clustered into group 4, and there was no regional specificity in these clusters. To differentiate the genotypes without sequencing, we developed a simple technique known as reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (RT-PCR/RFLP). The availability of this simple and easy diagnostic assay will facilitate very large epidemiological studies of BcoV.
(Research Team for Environmental/Enzootic Diseases, Hokkaido Research Station, TEL +81-29-838-7708)

Reference:

Kanno, T., et al. (2009) J. Vet. Med. Sci. 71: 83-86.

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