Differentiation of infectious laryngotracheitis virus strains using restriction endonucleases

Strains of infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV) were examined using an indirect immunofluorescent test (IIF) and with restriction endonucleases for detecting intratypic differences. Electrophoretic analysis of ILTV DNA fragments cleaved with restriction endonuclease Hind 111 clearly distinguished between strains. The IIF test did not discriminate between strains. A molecular weight estimate of ILTV DNA was made by summation of restriction endonuclease fragments cleaved with BamH1 (102.1 X 10(6)) and Hind111 (97.35 X 10(6)). Differences between the estimates may indicate the presence of submolar fragments.