Development and application of a novel TaqMan qPCR assay targeting the gN gene for genotyping pseudorabies virus

Pseudorabies virus (PRV), known as porcine herpesvirus type I, belongs to the α-herpesvirus subfamily of the herpesviridae family. Its virions are oval or round, with a genome of approximately 143 000 bp and a high guanine-cytosine (GC) content of 73% (Pomeranz et al., 2005). While swine are the natural host and the virus has caused significant economic loss to the pig industry, PRV can infect other mammals, causing acute infectious diseases characterized by neurological symptoms (He et al., 2019; Cheng et al., 2020). Young pigs are more susceptible to PRV and the infection in piglets is nearly 100% fatal, whereas adult pigs exhibit reproductive disorders such as abortion, stillbirths, and reduced fertility, ultimately decreasing farm productivity (Zuckermann, 2000). Due to its global impact, PRV is classified as a Class B infectious disease by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH).