Effect of Different Storage Temperatures on the Stability of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus RNA in Blood Samples

The present study was conducted to determine stability of Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) RNA stored at different temperatures. A total of 6 blood samples obtained from a private cattle farm, which were found to be antigen positive (Ag+) by direct ELISA method, were used in this study. BVDV Ag+ samples were stored separately at 4, 21 and 37oC for 1 month. The samples were analyzed on the 0, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th weeks by ELISA for the presence of BVDV Ag and by RT-PCR for the presence of BVDV RNA. Stability of BVDV RNA was calculated using maximum concentration (Cmax) and area under the curve (AUC) as kinetic parameters of each sample. All of the samples were found positive both by ELISA and RT-PCR on each week. Cmax values of BVDV RNA for the storage temperatures of 4, 21 and 37°C were 356, 346 and 338 ng/µL respectively, and AUC0→4 values for the same temperatures were 1151, 1106 and 1077 week.ng/µL respectively. It was determined that storage at different temperatures for one month does not statistically influence the kinetic parameters of BVDV RNA (P>0.05). In conclusion, it can be expressed that storage of BVDV RNA at 4, 21 and 37°C for one month has no effect on the stability of BVDV RNA.