Genetic variation between New Zealand and Western Samoan isolates of Aujeszky's disease virus.

A total of 14 isolates of Aujeszky's disease virus were examined by restriction-endonuclease analysis using BamH1, Xho1 and Kpn1 restriction enzymes. BamH1 was the enzyme of choice as it produced only 15 major fragments. All isolates produced similar BamH1 patterns but minor variation in the mobility of fragments 5/5'/6, 10, 12 and 13 was evident. In a number of isolates, additional bands were present in fragment regions 4,5/5'/6 and 8. The technique of restriction-endonuclease analysis has proved to be an effective method for differentiating between Aujeszky's disease virus isolates, and has shown the BamH1 patterns generated in the NZ and Western Samoan isolates to resemble closely those described overseas as Group 1 patterns.