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flow: hidden; } #info { color: #fff; position: absolute; top: 10px; width: 100%; text-align: center; z-index: 100; display:block; } #info a, .button { color: #f00; font-weight: bold; text- detection of MDV-1 occurred earlier on average in dust samples tested using qPCR than standard PCR and in spleen samples from five birds per shed assayed for MDV-1 by qPCR or standard PCR. DNA quality following extraction from dust had no effect on detecloadingImage" style="position:absolute; top:50%; left:50%;" src="*Ca6\**xJ"*WȀ4@4t-?$ XX4U X4@`?$ XXȃ4`X44Wx44P4p4V4@`.?$ [[(404@4t-?$ [[P4`@`?$ [[h4x4[@44@uffi?$ \\4uffi@(?$ \\Ȅ4؄4\4``@4?$ \\ 4`@[ 8.?$ \@4t-?$ \\`4`4\x4`4\ \H44 \844\4aa@\ ?$ \\4a\4\ \4b4 4\4p44@\ @t-?$ ]]`4V@?$ ]]4b]x44@(4.?$ ]]4b@?$ ] ]؆44 ]44]4@] 3@c`*?$ ]]@4@c.?$ ]]X4h4]4 4]444 44@P44?$ ^^4@t-?$ ^^4(@?$ ^^4(^4(4 ^؇484^P4e@c @`*?$ __x4e@4|'?$ _@4t-?$ __4d @V?$ __44_Ј44 _44@d @-?$ _ _4(4_4@4^H4X4^`44d s-`4p44@4@`*?$ aa4e@4`-?$ a@04 -?$ aa4e a؉44@e6?$ a a4(4@exf?$ aaP4f a@4h4@2.?$ a ax44@3t-?$ aa4(@g ?$ aa؊4؊4aȊ44 a44@4.?$ a a4 4@(4tion of MDV-1. Study 2 demonstrated that herpesvirus of turkeys (HVT) and MDV serotype 2 (MDV-2) in addition to MDV-1 could be readily amplified from commercial farm dust samples, often in mixtures. MDV-2 was detected in 11 of 20 samples despite the absence of vaccination with this serotype. Study 3 investigated the reproducibility and sensitivity of the qPCR test and the presence of inhibitors in the samples. Samples extracted and amplified in triplicate showed a high level of reproducibility except at very low levels of virus near the limit of detection. Mixing of samples prior to extraction provided results consistent with the proportions in the mixture. Tests for inhibition showed that if the template contained DNA in the range 0.5-20 ng/l no inhibition of the reaction was detectable. The sensitivity of the tests in terms of viral copy number (VCN) per milligram of dust was calculated to be in the range 24-600 VCN/mg for MDV-1, 48-1200 VCN/mg for MDV-2, and 182-4560 VCN/mg for HVT. In study 4 the results of 1976 commercial tests carried out for one company were analyzed. Overall 23.1percent of samples were positive for MDV-1, 26.1 percent in unvaccinated and 16.4 percent in vaccinated chickens. There was marked regional and temporal variation in the proportion of positive samples and the MDV-1 load. The tests were useful in formulating Marek's disease vaccination strategies. The number of samples submitted has increased recently, as has the incidence of positive samples. These studies provide strong evidence that detection and quantitation of MDV-1, HVT, and MDV-2 in poultry house dust using qPCR is robust, sensitive, reproducible, and meaningful, both biologically and commercially. Tactical vaccination based on monitoring of MDV-1 rather than routine vaccination may reduce selection pressure for increased virulence in MDV-1