Estimating the sensitivity and Specificity of Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with Rota virus latex agglutination test (Virogen Rotatest) in calves suffering from diarrhea in Karbala province

Objective: The aim of this study was to estimate the sensitivity and specificity of reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in the detection of Rotaviral diarrhea in calves, and to compare with Rota virus latex agglutination test (Virogen Rotatest). Methods: This study was conducted from November 2016 to April 2017 on 40 diarrheic fecal samples were taken from calves aged 1-30 days in un-organized dairy cow farm in Kerbala province, Iraq. Results: Among fourty fecal samples were collected from all diarrhoeal calves, 26 rotavirus in fecal samples were detected by virogen rota virus latex agglutination test. Result of chi square test showed that non- significant association study between sex of calves and number of Rota virus detection by Rota virogin test kit (P˃0.05), otherwise, results showed that 1-10 days possesses higher Rota virus observation (100%) as compared to the other age. The sensitivities of RT.PCR and Virogen Rota test were equal (92%) and (88.4%), respectively. While the specificity of virogen rota test (85.7%) was superior to that of RT.PCR (80%) with a total of 3 false positive results found on RT.PCR. Conclusion: A commercially available latex agglutination test (Virogen Rotatest) and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) protocol has been screened for bovine group A rotavirus infection, these results will help the readers for grasping advantages and limitations of two different diagnostic tools for screening diarrheal samples for Rota virus detection.