A specific PCR to differentiate between gE negative vaccine and wildtype bovine herpesvirus type 1 strains

In the context of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) control programme s using glycoprotein E (gE) deleted marker vaccines, a PCR assay was develo ped to allow the genotypic differentiation between wildtype bovine herpesvi rus type 1 (BoHV-1) and gE negative strains. This assay is based on the PCR amplification of a 281 bp DNA fragment within the gE gene. The specificity of the amplification was confirmed by restriction endonuclease analysis an d nucleotide sequencing of the PCR product. Its ability to determine the gE genotype of BoHV-1 strains was demonstrated on isolates coming from 20 exp erimental calves infected with four different BoHV-1 strains. This PCR assa y may be a useful tool for monitoring the spread of live marker vaccine and the gE genotype of viral field isolates. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. Al l rights reserved.