Detection of group B rotavirus by RT-PCR

A diagnostic assay was presented to detect group B rotavirus (GBRV) in fecal specimens with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR). GBRV double strand RNAs (dsRNA) isolated from stool samples were reverse transcribed and amplified by PCR using two oligonucleotide primers which were derived from genomic segment 3 of the IDIR (intestinal disease of infants rat) strain of GBRV. This RT PCR assay permitted the sensitive and specific detection of a variety of GBRV in fecal specimens. Wild GBRV strains of lamb, kid were detected with these primer pairs by RT PCR. Moreover, RT PCR also permitted the detection of genomic RNA of lamb GBRV KB 63 strain which has been adapted to serial passage in cattle. The specific PCR products of 290 bp suggested that GBRV from lamb, kid and calf had identical sequences in genomic RNA;