RAPID, SINGLE-STEP DIFFERENTIATION OF EQUID HERPESVIRUS-1 AND HERPESVIRUS-4 FROM CLINICAL MATERIAL USING THE POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION AND VIRUS-SPECIFIC PRIMERS
Gl. Lawrence et al., RAPID, SINGLE-STEP DIFFERENTIATION OF EQUID HERPESVIRUS-1 AND HERPESVIRUS-4 FROM CLINICAL MATERIAL USING THE POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION AND VIRUS-SPECIFIC PRIMERS, Journal of virological methods, 47(1-2), 1994, pp. 59-72
Sets of primers were designed which enabled specific amplification of
homologous regions of the glycoprotein C and gene 76 genetic loci of e
quine herpesviruses 1 and 4 (EHV-1 and EHV-4). The resultant virus-spe
cific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products arising from each loci
could be discriminated easily on the basis of size on an agarose gel,
allowing rapid differentiation of the two equine herpesviruses. Specif
icity of the amplifications were confirmed by Southern hybridization a
nd restriction endonuclease digestion. The PCR test was applied to nas
al swab samples from weanling foals and to archival aborted fetal tiss
ue samples and the results compared to those obtained by virus Isolati
on. A strong correlation was found between this PCR assay and virus is
olation methods of EHV-1 and EHV-4 detection and discrimination.