Deteksi Virus Rabies Pada Kasus Ante-Mortem Dengan RT-PCR

Abstract

Rabies virus detection using Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT – PCR) was considered to have high sensitivity and specificity. This method is relatively faster and easy to perform in comparison with other methods such as Fluorescent Antibody Test (FAT) and Mouse Inoculation Test (MIT). Therefore, the RT PCR method is used as ante mortem diagnosis of rabies. A total of 74 specimens such as saliva, conjuctival swabs and under tongue swabs were collected from the bites of animal transmitting rabies cases. The 74 specimens were collected from 28 human cases of suspected rabies outbreaks in 2009-2013 that has been tested in the Virology Laboratory, Center for Biomedical and Basic Technology of Health. All specimens examined by RT - PCR method using two primer pairs that amplify the partial gene regions of the N and G genes of the rabies virus. Two of the 74 specimens gave positive results of rabies by RT - PCR, i.e saliva and under-tongue swab from human cases of animal bites in 2009. RT-PCR assay can be used for ante mortem diagnosis of the rabies virus. The laboratory results are influenced by the type of specimen and collection time.