Rapid fluorescence detection of in situ hybridization with biotinylated bovine herpesvirus-1 DNA probes

Department of Pathobiology, University of Tennessee, College of Veterinary Medicine, Knoxville 37901.

The use of biotinylated DNA hybridization probes for clinical detection of bovine herpesvirus-1 was investigated. Biotinylated DNA hybridization probes were prepared from bovine herpesvirus-1 DNA purified from infected cell cultures. The viral DNA was nick translated in the presence of biotin-dUTP with DNA polymerase to incorporate biotin into the newly synthesized strand. The probe was tested for specificity in in situ hybridization assays with bovine herpesvirus-1 DNA. Hybridization was detected using avidin-fluorescein single sandwich systems and an avidin-globulin with anti-globulin-fluorescein double sandwich system. Hybridization was detected by specific fluorescence of infected cells. Fluorescence was present only in bovine herpesvirus-1-infected cell culture and not in noninfected cell culture or cell cultures infected with several other viruses. The assay was performed in 6 hr.