Development of a RT-nested PCR test detecting pigeon Paramyxovirus-l directly from organs of infected animals

A RT-nested PCR that amplifies part of the conserved nucleoprotein gene of avian Paramyxovirus type I is described. The technique allowed the detection of pigeon Paramyxovirus type 1 (pPMV-1) virus directly from a wide range of infected chicken and pigeon organs, and should be able to detect typical Newcastle disease viruses too. Compared with the reference method, the developed RT-nested PCR was found more sensitive, as it was able to detect virus genome in infected pigeon organs at late stage of infection, when virus isolation failed. Such a molecular technique represents an alternative method of diagnosis for research purposes on pPMV-1 variants, for example to study pathogenesis aspects of the infection or to assess the efficacy of vaccines. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.