Electrophoretic comparison of the genomes of North American bluetongue viruses, one Australian bluetongue virus, and three other related orbiviruses.

The genomes of U.S. bluetongue viruses, an Australian bluetongue virus, and three other related orbiviruses were analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The genomes were comprised of ten segments of double-stranded (ds) RNA. Estimates of the molecular weights of the dsRNA segments revealed that the U.S. bluetongue serotypes were remarkably similar. Although the dsRNA profiles of the viruses exhibited common segments, each virus had a distinct dsRNA profile. The usefulness of the genome analysis as a diagnostic tool for identification and for epidemiologic studies is discussed.