Tick-borne encephalitis in dogs: application of "nested real-time RT-PCR" for intravital virus detection.

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus is a tick-transmitted virus causing disorders of the nervous system in humans, monkeys, dogs and horses (rarely). At present the detection of TBE infection in dogs is performed by confirmation of seroconversion in paired samples of serum in clinical practice. The intention of the study was the assessment of the possible application of nested real-time RT-PCR for detection of TBE virus in canine blood. The study was carried out in 2011-2012 using samples originating in the Czech Republic, South Moravian region (region with endemic occurrence of TBE). The dogs were randomly selected from the patients visiting the clinic during this time period. Of the total amount of 159 canine blood samples, 20 samples were tested with a PCR-positive result (12.6%). Out of these 20 animals, the neurological clinical symptoms typical of TBE were detected in seven dogs. PCR-positive results were found between March and November. Three dogs were tested with a competitive ELISA-positive result and a "nested real-time RT-PCR"-positive result concurrently. In the group of 159 dogs the value of seroprevalence was found to be 11.3%.