Detection of bovine immunodeficiency-like virus by the polymerase chain reaction

This report describes a test for the bovine lentivirus, bovine immunodeficiency-like virus, in which polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology is employed. Two pairs of oligonucleotide primers directed to sequences within the coding regions of the gag and pol genes generated the expected PCR products from molecular BIV clones and from DNA of BIV-infected cell cultures but not from DNA of uninfected cultures. Data indicating the specificity and sensitivity of these PCRs for BIV detection and the potential utility of this technology for diagnostic applications are presented.