Detection of reovirus by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction using primers corresponding to conserved regions of the viral L1 genome segment.

A rapid, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) procedure for the detection of reovirus RNA in cell culture is described. Total nucleic acids are extracted from a small volume of cell culture supernatant and reverse transcribed using random hexamers. An aliquot of cDNA is then utilized in nested PCR.

Detection of mammalian reovirus RNA by using reverse transcription-PCR: sequence diversity within the lambda3-encoding L1 gene.

Reoviruses infect virtually all mammalian species, and infection of humans is associated with mild gastrointestinal or upper respiratory illnesses. To improve reovirus detection strategies, we developed a reverse transcription-PCR technique to amplify a fragment of the reovirus L1 gene segment. This assay was capable of detecting 44 of 44 reovirus field isolate strains and was sufficiently sensitive to detect nearly a single viral particle (1.

Improved detection systems for TT virus reveal high prevalence in humans, non-human primates and farm animals.

TT virus is a newly described agent infecting humans. Initially isolated from a patient (initials T.T.