Oligonucleotide fingerprint analysis on Japanese encephalitis virus strains isolated in Japan and Thailand.

Genetic variation in Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus isolates from Japan and Thailand was examined by oligonucleotide fingerprints of the 42S genome RNA. Japanese isolates were rather similar to each other, as were the recent isolates from Thailand. However, recent Thai isolates were significantly different from recent Japanese isolates. From these results it was presumed that mutations and selections of the JE virus genome would have progressed independently in these geographically distant areas.