Approbation of RT-qPCR test kit for differential diagnosis of African and Classical swine fever

Abstract

The first Ukrainian real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) based test kit for the differential diagnosis of African (AFS) and Classical swine fever (CSF) has been developed in the Institute of Veterinary Medicine of NAAS. The proposed test kit allows simultaneous detection of three targets: ASFV DNA, CSFV cDNA and an internal control sample. The goal of this work was to provide an expert evaluation of the RT-qPCR kit for differential diagnosis of ASF and CSF according to appearance, analytical sensitivity, specificity and repeatability. Interdepartmental evaluation of the kit was conducted in the State Scientific and Research Institute of Laboratory Diagnostics and Veterinary and Sanitary Expertise (DNDILDEVSE) in accordance with the approved methodology. The RT-qPCR kit sensitivity was determined by testing 10-fold serial dilutions of the ASFV DNA and CSFV cDNA (concentration range was 103–100 copies/μl). For specificity determination reference samples of ASFV DNA different genotypes, ASF and CSF positive and negative field samples, as well as pathogens which cause similar to ASF and CSF clinical syndromes were used. Sample preparation and amplification were performed according to the test kit instructions. The amplification was accomplished on QuantStudio™ 5 System (Applied Biosystems). As a result of accomplished interdepartmental evaluation high sensitivity, specificity and repeatability of RT-qPCR kit were confirmed. In particular, it was determined that the limit of detection of the RT-qPCR kit was 5 copies of the ASFV and CSFV genomes per one reaction. The high specificity of the assay to ASFV (I, II, V, VIII, IX and X genotypes) and CSFV was confirmed. It was showп no cross-reactions with closely related pigs viruses (porcine circovirus type 2, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus and virus of Aujeszky's disease). The high enough repeatability of results was also confirmed. In conclusion, the obtained results are in compliance with the requirements of the RT-qPCR kit normative and technical documentation. This RT-qPCR kit will be recommended for use in veterinary medicine laboratories after its registration would be done.