RAPID, SINGLE-STEP DIFFERENTIATION OF EQUID HERPESVIRUS-1 AND HERPESVIRUS-4 FROM CLINICAL MATERIAL USING THE POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION AND VIRUS-SPECIFIC PRIMERS

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.