African Journal of
Biotechnology

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Biotechnol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1684-5315
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJB
  • Start Year: 2002
  • Published Articles: 12487

Full Length Research Paper

Nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) based diagnosis of bovine leukemia virus in Panama

Axel Villalobos-Cortes*
  • Axel Villalobos-Cortes*
  • Instituto de Investigación Agropecuaria, Laboratorio de Análisis y Biología Molecular Aplicada, Ciudad de Saber Edificio 221, Panama City, Panama.
  • Google Scholar
Selma Franco
  • Selma Franco
  • Instituto de Investigación Agropecuaria, Laboratorio Salud Animal, Carretera Panamericana km 214, Divisa, Provincia de Herrera.
  • Google Scholar
Rita Gonzalez
  • Rita Gonzalez
  • Instituto de Investigación Agropecuaria, Laboratorio de Análisis y Biología Molecular Aplicada, Ciudad de Saber Edificio 221, Panama City, Panama.
  • Google Scholar
Marcelino Jaen
  • Marcelino Jaen
  • Instituto de Investigación Agropecuaria, Laboratorio Salud Animal, Carretera Panamericana km 214, Divisa, Provincia de Herrera.
  • Google Scholar


  •  Received: 15 October 2016
  •  Accepted: 23 February 2017
  •  Published: 15 March 2017

Abstract

The bovine leukemia virus is an exogenous retrovirus that causes enzootic bovine leukosis. The aim of this study was to apply and compare a diagnostic test in an outbreak of bovine leukemia virus by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR)  in a core conservation of native cattle Guaymí. From the results obtained by the three techniques used, the agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) test detected 33 positive animals. The nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) tested blood and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) detected more positive animals than AGID with 17 and 30%, respectively. Animals positive to the ELISA and AGID test but negative to nPCR could be attributed to the existence of animals with genotypes of BoLA-DRB3.2 of major histocompatibility complex class II alleles with favorable resistant to bovine leukaemia virus (BLV). The possibility of further studies on resistance against BLV can be done. It is concluded that the ELISA and nPCR are the diagnostic tests of option for BLV.

Key words: Biotechnology, bovine enzootic leukemia, electrophoresis, Guaymi.