A novel duplex TaqMan probe-based real-time RT-qPCR for detecting and differentiating classical and variant porcine epidemic diarrhea viruses

作者:Su, Yunfang; Liu, Yunchao; Chen, Yumei; Xing, Guangxu; Hao, Huifang; Wei, Qiang; Liang, Yue; Xie, Weitao; Li, Dongliang; Huang, Huimin; Deng, Ruiguang; Zhang, Gaiping*
来源:Molecular and Cellular Probes, 2018, 37: 6-11.
DOI:10.1016/j.mcp.2017.10.003

摘要

Two different genotypes of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), the classical and variant strains, are classified by multiple insertions and deletions in their S genes. It is critical to detect and differentiate two genotypes in the pork industry to prevent PEDV outbreaks. In the present study, a novel duplex TaqMan RT-PCR was developed for detecting and differentiating PEDV strains in China. There was no cross-amplification between the two probes when using standard recombinant plasmids, and the specificity was further confirmed by using other seven non-PEDV swine pathogens. The minimum copies required for the detection of both classical and variant PEDV were 4.8 x 10(2) DNA copies/reaction. The repeatability of TaqMan RT-PCR was evaluated using standard recombinant plasmids and gave coefficients of variation 0.19-4.93. In recent 5 years, 79 clinical samples were collected from piglets with severe diarrhea in the Central China. Among these clinical samples, 51 were confirmed as PEDV positive by conventional RT-PCR, whereas 63 variant PEDV, 3 co-infections and 1 classical PEDV were confirmed by this duplex TaqMan RT-PCR, with viral loads of 10(2)-10(8), 10(2)-10(3), and 10(4) copies/reaction, respectively. Therefore, the duplex TaqMan RT-PCR could be a useful method for detecting and differentiating variant and classical PEDV strains. The results showed that variant PEDV was prevalent in clinical samples in central China. Moreover, in this study, co-infection by PEDV strains was detected for the first time and might help explain the emergence of the novel recombinant PEDV in recent years.