DETECTION OF AHV-1 DNA IN LUNG SECTIONS FROM BLUE WILDEBEEST (CONNOCHAETES TAURINUS) CALVES BY IN-SITU HYBRIDIZATION

In situ hybridization was performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedd ed lung sections from eight blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) ca lves to investigate the role of this organ in the excretion of alcelap hine herpes virus-1 (AHV-1). A digoxigenin labelled SmaI fragment of A HV-1 was used as a DNA probe. Viral DNA was detected in the lungs of s even calves in which infection with AHV-1 had previously been confirme d, indicating the significance of the lower respiratory tract in viral replication and excretion. The results also confirmed the sensitivity of the in situ hybridization technique in detecting low amounts of vi ral DNA in infected cells in routinely processed tissues.