Abstract:

Diagnosing infectious diseases using in situ hybridization

Joaquim Segalés, DVM, PhD; José A. Ramos-Vara, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ECVP; C. Oliver Duran, DVM, MRCVS, PhD; Amy Porter; Mariano Domingo, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ECVP

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This note describes the foundations, methodology, principles, advantages and disadvantages of using in situ hybridization to diagnose swine infectious diseases. In situ hybridization (ISH) relies on the detection of complementary sequences of nucleic acids present in the tissue using labeled nucleic acid sequences (probes) specific for the infectious organism. Hybridization occurs between complementary purine and pyrimidine bases of nucleic acids. The hybridization of segments of nucleic acids is revealed by an enzymatic reaction or the color emission of a fluorochrome. As with immunohistochemistry, the specificity and sensitivity of ISH makes it an excellent alternative to more complex, expensive, and time-consuming laboratory procedures such as virus isolation or microbiological culture for the diagnoses of swine infectious diseases.

Keywords: diagnosis, diagnostics, in situ hybridization

RIS citationCite as: Segales J, Ramos-Vara JA, Duran CO, et al. Diagnosing infectious diseases using in situ hybridization. J Swine Health Prod 1999;7(3):125-128.

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