Detection of FMDV RNA Amplified by the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

Molecular detection of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a rapid and accurate method. In this study we present PCR for the detection of FMDV RNA in infected BHK cells. Using PCR and two primers selected from the RNA polymerase gene, a conserved sequence in all types and subtypes of FMDV, we were able to detect FMDV RNA present in RNA extracted from the FMDV-infected cells. RNA from uninfected BHK cells gave negative results. Another set of primers selected from the nucleotide sequence of the variable VP1 gene permitted the demonstration of variations among different FMDV Israeli isolates by PCR. Two 01 type FMDV isolates out of a total of 6 FMDV field isolates (including 01 Geshur) gave a positive PCR while two other 01 isolates and two ASIA isolates were detected with the RNA polymerase gene primers but not with the VP1 primers. Serial dilutions of the RNA used in each reaction showed that a very small amount of RNA may be detected by PCR. The PCR products from the RNA polymerase and the VP1 genes were sequenced and the nucleotide sequences obtained were compared with a known nucleotide sequence of the FMDV 01 genome.