Development of real-time PCR-based methods for the detection of enzootic nasal tumor virus 2 in goats

Arch Virol. 2019 Mar;164(3):707-716. doi: 10.1007/s00705-018-04138-0. Epub 2019 Jan 2.

Abstract

Enzootic nasal adenocarcinoma (ENA) is a contagious neoplasm of sheep and goats, associated with the oncogenic retroviruses enzootic nasal tumor virus (ENTV) 1 and 2, respectively. It appears to be common in countries with substantial small ruminant-production. ENA diagnosis in goats is based on autopsy and histopathology, and there is no real-time PCR method available for ENTV-2 detection. Here, a novel one-tube real-time RT-PCR (RT-qPCR) method for the detection and quantification of ENTV-2 in nasal swabs is presented. The method targets the env gene/U3 region. For the design of ENTV-2-specific oligonucleotides, molecular characterization of seven Greek ENTV-2 strains was performed. Phylogenetic analysis revealed three distinct phylogenetic clades of ENTV-2 that correlate with the country of sample collection. Evaluation of the analytical performance of the RT-qPCR revealed an amplification efficiency of 92.8% and a linear range of quantification between 2 × 108 and 2 × 102 RNA transcripts. Analysis of nasal swabs from 23 histopathologically confirmed, naturally occurring ENA cases via RT-qPCR yielded positive results. Moreover, modification of the method for use in a real-time PCR (qPCR) assay enables detection of proviral DNA in tumor specimens. Both methods are highly specific and can be used for the confirmation of ENA-suspected cases. Future applications could include ante-mortem diagnosis, verification of the ENTV-2-free status in animal trade, disease surveillance, and control programs.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Betaretrovirus / classification
  • Betaretrovirus / genetics
  • Betaretrovirus / isolation & purification*
  • Goat Diseases / diagnosis
  • Goat Diseases / virology*
  • Goats
  • Nose Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Nose Neoplasms / veterinary*
  • Nose Neoplasms / virology
  • Phylogeny
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods*
  • Retroviridae Infections / diagnosis
  • Retroviridae Infections / veterinary*
  • Retroviridae Infections / virology
  • Tumor Virus Infections / diagnosis
  • Tumor Virus Infections / veterinary*
  • Tumor Virus Infections / virology