DIFFERENTIAL-DIAGNOSIS AND GENETIC-ANALYSIS OF THE ANTIGENICALLY RELATED SWINE VESICULAR DISEASE VIRUS AND COXSACKIE-VIRUSES

Monoclonal antibodies directed against an isolate of swine vesicular d isease virus (SVDV), characterized by virus neutralization tests and c ompetition assays, were used to compare SVDV isolates and isolates of the antigenically related Coxsackie viruses by ELISA. Four SVDV-specif ic reaction patterns and one specific for Coxsackie viruses were obser ved. This provided a method for distinguishing between these enterovir uses. In addition, RT-PCRs were undertaken with Coxsackie virus and SV DV genomes. Different product patterns were obtained which correlated with the genetic differences revealed by nucleotide sequence determina tion. RT-PCR distinguished between SVDV and Coxsackie viruses by patte rn differences. Further SVDV-specific PCRs were carried out with clini cal samples. Viral genomes were detected with a sensitivity equivalent to that of virus isolation in cell culture. Sequencing of the Coxsack ie virus-derived 2A-coding PCR products resulted in a not previously d escribed sequence of a B5 isolate and in a SVDV-specific sequence of t wo Coxsackie virus A16 isolates. The differences of the isolates by EL ISA and PCR reactivity, as well as the nucleotide sequence differences are consistent with the quasispecies concept of RNA viruses.