CHARACTERISTIC DIFFERENCES IN REVERSE TRANSCRIPTION-POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION PRODUCTS OF OVINE, BOVINE, AND HUMAN RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUSES

In reverse transcription-polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCR) and DNA h ybridizations using primers and an oligonucleotide probe to the fusion (F) protein mRNA of bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV), all th e BRSV isolates and a goat isolate could be distinguished from prototy pe isolates of human respiratory syncytial viruses (HRSV) and ovine (s heep and bighorn sheep) respiratory syncytial viruses (RSV). However, RT-PCR amplifications with primers to sequences of the HRSV F protein mRNA resulted in amplified products of almost-equal-to 243 bp if mRNA templates of subgroup A HRSV strains were present and slightly larger amplified products with subgroup B HRSV strains. No amplified products were observed in HRSV-primed RT-PCR with BRSV or goat or ovine RSV mR NA templates. Although the ovine RSV isolates were antigenically cross -reactive with the goat RSV, HRSV and BRSV isolates, they were not amp lified with either HRSV- or BRSV-specific primers in RT-PCR. These res ults confirm previous immunological comparisons suggesting that some o vine RSV isolates should be considered as distinct respiratory syncyti al viruses.