The FQ-PCR assay primers and probe (named Real-F, Real-R and Real-P respectively) design was carried out using the Primer Express™ software supplied by Applied Biosystems and their sequences were listed in Table 3 . The forward and reverse primers amplified a 60 bp fragment of AHV-1 DNA polymerase gene as described (GenBank Accession No. AF064639). The fluorogenic probe was labelled at 5' with FAM (6-carboxyfluorescein) dye as reporter and labelled at 3' with TAMRA (tetra-methylcarboxyrhodamine) as quencher and 3'with MGB™ (Minor Groove Binder).