Isolation and genetic analysis of Tembusu virus in ducks

Abstract

The experiment was conducted from August 2020 to March 2022 at the Veterinary Hospital of Nong Lam University, Ho Chi Minh City. The aim of this study was to isolate and analyze Tembusu virus gene (flavivirus) using 9 to 11 day-old embryonic duck eggs. Treated specimens were inoculated into embryonic duck eggs by allantoic route, then eggs were observed every day for 7 days. The allantoic fluids of the survival eggs were inoculated up to 3 times. Subsequently, the allantoic fluids were checked by real-time RT-PCR to detect Tembusu virus. A positive sample was then titrated, and finally a partial genome was sequenced as well as a phylogenetic tree was constructed. As a result, a strain of Tembusu virus was isolated, and genetic analysis of partial E gene showed that this virus strain was highly similar (from 96,8% to 98,15%) to others in China and Thailand.