A comparative electrophoretic examination of swine vesicular disease virus and Coxsackie B5 virus.

Purified suspensions of Coxsackie B5 virus and swine vesicular disease virus (SVDV) were prepared by harvesting and purifying cell pack virus. Crossed immunoelectrophoresis was carried out with purified N and H antigen fractions (full and empty particles). Relative migration velocity (RMV) was calculated for the N antigen fraction of 3 SVD viruses (UKG72, HK71 and Italy 66) and 2 Coxsackie B5 viruses (Faulkner and 8068). The prototype strain of Coxsackie B5 virus (Faulkner) had a low RMV almost identical to that of the first isolated strain of SVDV, Italy 66. A recent isolate of Coxsackie B5 virus (8068, isolated in UK in 1973) had a relatively high RMV very close to that of the UKG72 strain of SVDV isolated in the UK in 1972. Also the Hong Kong strain of SVDV (HK71) had a high RMV value. These observations are considered in relation to the emergence of swine vesicular disease.