Reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification for rapid detection of the newly emerged poultry Flavivirus

Poultry Flavivirus (PF) was a recently emerged virus with high morbidity rates and mortality rates in China. It is the causative agent of egg drop syndrome at present. Development of the reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay was the most efficient way to prevent and control the PF disease. The assay was performed at 64 degrees C for 45 min, using six specific primers that recognized eight targets of the PF E gene. The RT-LAMP assay, compared to conventional reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, has 100-fold-greater sensitivity, with a detection limit of 1 x 10(-3) copies per mu L RNA and no cross-reaction with poultry other viruses. The RT-LAMP assay is a valuable tool for detected PF without requiring any sophisticated equipment, and the detection has potential usefulness for clinical diagnosis in the field.