A DNA hybridization dot-blot assay using a radioactive and a non-radioactive probe has been developed for the detection of Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV). The Bam H I 7 fragment of ADV genomic DNA was labeled by nick translation using 32P-dCTP and the 196bp polymerase chain reaction (PCR) gG glycoprotein gene amplified fragment was also labeled by nick translation but using biotin d-7-dATP. This technique provides a fast and effective means of detecting acute cases of ADV infection but it was unable to detect ADV nucleic acid sequences in trigeminal nerve ganglia of latent infected pigs and mice.
Aujeszky's disease virus; dot-blot hybridization; radioactive probe; non radioactive probe
