Comparative sensitivity of PCR and cell culture technique for the identification of goat pox virus.

Goat pox is the most serious of the pox diseases of livestock and can cause heavy production losses. The study was designed to compare the sensitivity of PCR analysis with the cell culture technique for detection of goat pox virus. For this purpose a total of one hundred skin and scab samples were collected from cattle market, hide market and slaughterhouse in district Lahore Pakistan.. Vero cell line culture was used for the isolation of virus. For PCR analysis, the sequenced genome of KS-1 strain primer of Capri poxvirus was used. Out of one hundred, 76 samples were positive by PCR while 46 were positive by cell culture technique. It was found that cell culture gives 17%, 9% and 20% positive results while PCR give 22%, 21% and 33% positive results in Cattle markets, hide markets and tanneries and slaughter houses, respectively. It was concluded that that PCR is more specific and sensitive technique as compared to cell culture method for detection of goat pox virus.