In situ hybridization for detection of chicken anaemia virus in peripheral blood smears.

Blood smears, obtained from chickens known to be infected with or free from chicken anaemia virus (CAV), were tested to detect CAV DNA by in situ hybridization (ISH). A double-stranded, 1485 base-pair (bp) DNA probe was prepared employing polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The probe was labelled with digoxigenin or biotin by nick translation. In situ hybridization employing simple specimen preparation, using both digoxigenin- and biotin-labelled probes, provided a rapid and inexpensive method for diagnosis of CAV infection. Infection with CAV was detected by ISH prior to seroconversion by indirect immunofluorescence assay.