RABIES VIRUS DETECTION IN MILK SAMPLES: EFFICIENCY COMPARISON OF NESTED RT-PCR AND TAQMAN REAL-TIME PCR FOR INTRAVITAM DIAGNOSIS

Milk sample was obtained from 17 lactating animals suspected to be rabid. An attempt was made by employing advanced molecular approach Nested RT-PCR and TaqMan real time PCR on milk samples with an aim to detect the presence of rabies viral RNA. Confirmatory diagnosis of rabies was made by applying conventional techniques; Immunofluorescence on brain tissue. This study depicts the presence of rabies viral RNA in 2/17 milk sample with a sensitivity of 54.54% by Nested RT-PCR and 4/17 milk samples with a sensitivity of (60%) by TaqMan real time PCR when compared with FAT applied on brain tissue. This study confirms the presence of rabies viral RNA in milk