DETECTION AND SUBTYPING OF FOOT-AND-MOUTH-DISEASE VIRUS IN INFECTED CATTLE BY POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION AND AMPLIFIED VP1 SEQUENCING

Fast and accurate detection of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks is needed to limit spread of the disease by proper vaccination. The us e of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has revolutionized the way in which viral diseases are diagnosed. Sequence analysis of the amplifie d VP1 sequence can enable the classification of FMD virus detected in the morbid animal. PCR assays were carried out to identify the virus a nd its serotype in suspect animals from 2 outbreaks of FMD type O viru s. Sequence analysis of the amplified VP1 cDNA showed 78% homology wit h O1K and over 95% homology between the samples. These findings sugges t that the 2 outbreaks were due to infection with the same virus seros ubtype.