DETECTION OF BOVINE HERPESVIRUS-1 WITH VARIOUS TYPES OF DNA PROBES

The method of dot-blot hybridization on nitrocellulose filters by vari ous types of DNA probes (ds recombinant plasmids, ss recombinant M13 p hages and a 42bp synthetic oligonucleotide) was used for BHV-1 detecti on. The highest sensitivity was achieved with the P-32-pUR1 probe (1.8 kb random EcoRI-HindIII fragment inserted into pUC9) which detected t he BHV-1 genome in 5 x 10(3) infected MDBK cells. Using the pUR1 probe , no cross hybridization was observed with other herpesviruses: BHV-2, 3, 4, and Aujeszky's disease virus. The P-32-pUR1 probe detected BHV- 1 in nasal swabs of calves as early as on day 1 after experimental inf ection. The maximum intensity of BHV-1 detection occurred on day 1-3. The P-32-pUR1 probe also detected BHV-1 in field samples of nasal swab s from cows and calves.