Development of an RT-qPCR Assay for the Detection of an Emerging Duck Egg-Reducing Syndrome

Duck egg-reducing syndrome virus (DERSV) is a novel Avihepatovirus and is responsible for a gradual decline in the laying rate of ducks, decreasing from a peak of 90% to 50%. The development of a rapid detection method for DERSV is crucial for the identification and control of virus infections. In t...

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Main Authors: Zhifei Zhang, Xin Su, Dun Shuo, Dawei Yan, Xue Pan, Bangfeng Xu, Minghao Yan, Shuxuan Ren, Qinfang Liu, Chunxiu Yuan, Qiaoyang Teng, Zejun Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Veterinary Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/3/241
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Summary:Duck egg-reducing syndrome virus (DERSV) is a novel Avihepatovirus and is responsible for a gradual decline in the laying rate of ducks, decreasing from a peak of 90% to 50%. The development of a rapid detection method for DERSV is crucial for the identification and control of virus infections. In this study, we developed a quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) assay for detecting DERSV. Specific primers and a probe were designed to target a conserved region of the 3D gene. The assay demonstrated high specificity, with no cross-reactivity to other non-target duck viruses. It had a detection limit of 10<sup>2</sup> copies and a linear range from 10<sup>2</sup> to 10<sup>9</sup> copies per reaction. The assay’s efficiency was 92.59%, with a regression coefficient (R<sup>2</sup>) of 0.999. The coefficient of variation for both intra-and inter-assays was less than 2.00%. Among the 153 clinical samples collected from 2016 to 2023, the RT-qPCR detected a DERSV positive ratio of 47.06% (72/153). In conclusion, the utilization of the real-time RT-qPCR assay holds potential for the detection of DERSV in epidemiological and pathogenesis studies.
ISSN:2306-7381