Development of generic Taqman PCR and RT-PCR assays for the detection of DNA and mRNA of β-actin-encoding sequences in a wide range of animal species.

•We developed generic real-time PCR and RT-PCR for β-actin DNA and RNA sequences.•A unique primers/probe system detects β-actin sequences of many animal species.•Mammal, fish, batrachian and arthropod species were tested in this work.•Cellular nucleic acids that contaminate viral extracts can be quantified.•This assay is useful for virologists working with many cell lines or animal models.