TaqMan based qPCR assay for specific detection of Sheeppox virus

Abstract

Sheeppox virus, together with goatpox virus and Lumpy skin disease virus, is a member of the genus Capripoxvirus, family Poxviridae. SPPV strains cause sheep pox, disease primarily in sheep but can also cause disease in goats. It is characterized by fever, generalized papules or nodules, vesicles, internal lesions and death. Mortality can be up to 100%. Sheep pox are endemic in Africa north of the Equator, the Middle East and Asia, but recently there were outbreaks in European countries Bulgaria and Greece and also in other countries such as Chinese Taipei, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Morocco and Russia. Because of severity of disease and great economic importance, Sheep pox is listed to OIE notifiable diseases. Rapid detection of the virus before appearance of clinical signs would be very important in managing and for surveillance of the disease. We describe development of rapid TaqMan based real-time PCR assay for specific detection of SPPV, both field and vaccine strains. The assay does not detect GTPV or LSDV strains. Specificity of the assay was tested on 20 different SPPV, GTPV and LSDV strains with no false positive or false negative results. Sensitivity of the assay was determined comparing with Capripox qPCR assay (Bowden) and it is determined that the SPPV assay is 4 times less sensitive. Despite slightly lower sensitivity this assay can provide fast and reliable detection of the virus and differentiation from GTPV and LSDV strains without need for gel electrophoresis or nucleotide sequencing.