[Differentiation of strains of bovine infectious rhinotracheitis virus using restriction analysis]

The virus of infectious rhinotracheitis of cattle (BHV-1) causes the respiratory diseases, encephalitis, vulvovaginitis, abortions, etc. in sensitive animals. The attempts to differentiate the viral strains by virology and serology methods were unsuccessful. The restriction analysis makes possible to divide the strains into the three main groups designated BHV-1.1, BHV-1.2 and BHV-1.3. Majority of authors note the lack of correlation between the restriction pattern of DNA and the syndromes caused by the strains of the first and second groups while all the representatives of the third group were isolated in case of meningoencephalitis. The restriction analysis of BHV-1 strains isolated in the USSR by restriction endonucleases EcoRI, BamHI, HpaI and ClaI is presented. The obtained results show the absence of correlation between the restriction pattern of the strain and the syndrome caused by the viruses of all three groups. The representatives of the group BHV-1.3 that are not associated with the neurological syndrome are isolated for the first time.