The current tools to diagnose infections of BoHV-1 include the detection of virus specific antibodies by ELISA and the detection of viral genome by PCR. While the detection of antibodies indicates a former infection, the detection of viral DNA allows conclusions concerning the presence of virus or even the presence of replicating virus in the sampled animal. In contrast to the detection of virus specific antibodies, which can be detected only five to ten days post infection, viral DNA can be amplified already at day 1 and up to approximately day 14 post infection. Therefore, the detection of BoHV-1 in acute phase at early time points of infection is most easily accomplished by nucleic acid amplification.
Amplification of genomes by PCR for direct detection of DNA viruses is a valuable and frequently applied method. BoHV-1 specific PCR assays are described by mean of conventional as well as quantitative methods (Fuchs 1999, Claus 2005, Wernike 2011). However isothermal amplifications (Loop-mediated isothermal AMPlification, LAMP; Rolling Circle Amplification, RCA; Recombinase Polymerase Amplification, RPA) are described as alternative methods for the specific amplification and detection of DNA (Kim 2011). These methods might be equally sensitive as PCR assays. Indeed, a careful evaluation of the primers for a LAMP reaction should lead to an assay of high sensitivity and specificity. Several diagnostic tests for DNA viruses engaging LAMP (Luo 2011, Livingstone 2016) and RNA viruses engaging RT-LAMP (Shirato 2014, Kurosaki 2016) are published. Isothermal amplification methods are also described for detection of herpesvirus DNA. A LAMP-based diagnostic assay was developed for Gallid herpesvirus 1 (Ou 2012) and a RPA-based assay for Cyprinid herpesvirus 3 (Presscott 2016). A LAMP-based assay specifically for the detection of Indian isolates of BoHV-1 in semen was recently published (Pawar 2015).