A comparison of different cloned genome segments of Epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus as serogroup-specific probes

Summary The eight largest double-stranded (ds) RNA genome segments of Epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) serotype 2 (Alberta strain) have been cloned. Of these, segments 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 are represented by clones that correspond in size to those predicted for full-length clones. The different clones were used as nucleic acid probes to study the nucleic acid homology of cognate genes of four different EHDV serotypes. The results indicated that the 4 isolates may be subdivided in two geographic groups which include Ibaraki virus as the sole member of one group and EHDV1 (New Jersey), EHDV2 (Alberta) and EHDV6 (XBM67—isolated in South Africa) as a second. Genome segments 1, 3, 4, 6, and 8 were found to be highly conserved with more than 90% homology amongst cognate genes of three of the members of the EHDV serogroup. Of these, segments 1 and 3 showed the largest degree of homology with cognate genes of members of the BTV serogroup. Segment 6 and 8 probes of EHDV2 (Alberta) on the other hand did not hybridize with BTV dsRNA under conditions of moderate to low stringency and are recommended for use as EHDV group-specific probes.