A cDNA probe representing 418 base pairs at the center of the genome segment A of the E1S virus (which belongs to the infectious pancreatic necrosis virus-Ab serotype) was used in a dot blot hybridization assay to detect E1S viral RNA from cell culture. The best results of dot blot hybridization were found when E1S viral RNA was denatured by heating in a boiling water bath for 10 min, then quick-chilled in - 20°C ethanol or denatured in 0.1 N NaOH for 5 min. It was concluded that radioactive probes and digoxigenin-Iabeled probes had the same sensitivity in dot blot hybridization, because the minimum quantity of viral RNA detected by each was 0.1 ng. Therefore, digoxigenin-Iabeled probes could replace radioactive probes thus providing a safe and effective method for the detection of the E1S virus by dot blot hybridization.
Birnaviridae, Digoxigenin, Infectious pancreatic necrosis virus
