Identification of Aujeszky's disease virus by nested polymerase chain reaction

Using PCR and nested primers that correspond to the gpII and gp50 genes, a highly specific and sensitive technique was developed for identifying Aujeszky's disease virus (suid herpesvirus type I, SHV-I) in cell culture and animal organs. Strains and virus isolates collected in the 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 strain) that for the first time was isolated from camels. The nucleotide sequence of the gpII gene fragment was found to be completely identical to the one determined earlier. Nucleotide replacements in the gp50 gene causing amino acid changes were determined.