A novel oligonucleotide probe for the detection of Newcastle disease virus.

An approach that possesses high specificity and broad applicability was used to obtain a DNA probe with potential diagnostic value. By utilizing synthesized oligonucleotide DNA, termed NDV probe, all 14 strains of NDV tested under high-stringency conditions were recognized in a slot-blot hybridization assay. The sequence of the NDV probe was generated from a highly conserved region of the NDV genome. No hybridization was observed with RNA isolated from other avian viruses, including avian influenza, infectious bursal disease, and infectious bronchitis. The specificity inherent in using an oligonucleotide probe offers advantages over probes obtained from cloned DNA fragments.