MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF SOUTH-AMERICAN BOVINE HERPESVIRUS-1 ISOLATES WITH MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES AND SDS-PAGE

Antigenic patterns of BHV-1 isolates from Argentina, Chile and Brazil were examined with a panel of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) generated w ith BHV-1.1 and BHV-1.3 strains. Among the Argentinean isolates, 7/8 n eurological cases showed BHV-1.3 characteristics and 10/12 non-neurolo gical cases from all countries exhibited BHV-1.1/2 pattern. All viral isolates from genital infections showed BHV-1.1/2 characteristics. Chi lean isolates exhibited BHV-1.1/2 pattern and one among 3 brasileans v iruses was defined as belonging to BHV-1.3. Results of the characteriz ation using MAbs, were confirmed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophor esis (SDS-PAGE) analysis of representative isolates. A total correlati on was observed between the reactivity with MAbs and the SDS-polyacryl amide analysis. Based on the data presented, it is concluded that the type 1.3, most frequently obtained from the brain of neurological case s, is present in Argentina and Brazil and coexists with BHV-1.1/2.