Using PCR and nested primers that correspond to the gpII and gp50 gene
s, a highly specific and sensitive technique was developed for identif
ying Aujeszky's disease virus (suid herpesvirus type I, SHV-I) in cell
culture and animal organs. Strains and virus isolates collected in th
e CIS were found to have essentially different biological properties.
The technique permitted the virus genome to be detected even in cases
when the bioassay and ELISA showed no virus. The primary structure was
elucidated for the gpII and gp50 gene fragments of SHV-I (Turkmenia s
train) that for the first time was isolated from camels. The nucleotid
e sequence of the gpII gene fragment was found to be completely identi
cal to the one determined earlier. Nucleotide replacements in the gp50
gene causing amino acid changes were determined.