EVALlJATION OF DNA PROBING & PCR TECHNIQUE IN IDENTIFICATION OF SOME POSSIBLY ISOLA TED VIRUSES

Abstract

The use of PCR in infectious disease has primarily entered in the diagnosis of viral diseases. It cm.ud have diagnostic potential in cases in which culture is difficult and time consuming or if increase sensitivity is desired (Remick etal,l990)

HBV belongs to a family of hepatotropic DNA vimses called hepadna vims type 1 (Koffand Galambos,1987).The whole vims is the Dane particle , which consists of an inner core formed by the hver cell nucleus and outer surface coat (l-IBsAg). Small spheres and t\1bules ( 1 OOnm long ) of excess viral protein also contain the hepatitis surface

antigen (Kumar and Clark,l987)

The present work aims to evaluate PCR technique in diagnosis of hepatitis B vims infection and to compare the results with liver nmction tests as detennined by senrm albumin ,enzymatic levels as well as other hepatitis B markers including HB\ antigens and HBV e antigens