Antigenic and genomic comparison between non-cytopathic and cytopathic bovine viral diarrhoea viruses isolated from cattle that had spontaneous mucosal disease.

Antigenic and genomic relationships between five pairs of non-cytopathic and cytopathic bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) viruses isolated from cattle with mucosal disease were examined. Antigenic similarity was evaluated by studying the binding characteristics of 10 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) directed against the gp53 BVD virus glycoprotein. The MAb binding match between members of the same virus pair ranged from 10/10 to 7/10. The genomic relationships was evaluated by studying the hybridization characteristics of two cDNA probes and six complementary 20 base oligomer probes with virus DNA, selected on the basis of conservation between published BVD virus sequences; cDNA probes were hybridized at two stringencies (60 degrees C and 45 degrees C). The match of hybridization results between members of the same virus pair ranged from 4/4 to 1/4 with the cDNA probes and from 6/6 to 3/6 with the oligomer probes. The results indicate that members of the same virus pair can differ at both the antigenic and genomic levels.