Detection of California serogroup viruses using universal primers and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction

Universal primers have been identified and a protocol developed that are suitable for rapid detection of California encephalitis (CE) complex viruses in a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay. These primers correspond to sequences in the coding regions of the G2 glycoprotein of the middle-size RNA segment. The identities of the amplified products were confirmed by sequencing on the clones or PCR products. The technique is capable of detecting 40 plaque-forming units (PFU) directly on an ethidium bromide-stained agarose gel and the sensitivity increases to 0.4-1 PFU when a radiolabeled probe is used as the detector.