Molecular and genetic comparisons of two serotypes of epizootic hemorrhagic disease of deer virus.

The virus-specific double-stranded genome RNA of 2 serotypes of epizootic hemorrhagic disease of deer virus (EHDV) was evaluated by use of coelectrophoresis in polyacrylamide and agarose gel systems. The molecular weights of virion RNA segments were 0.32 to 2.57 X 10(6) for EHDV-1 and 0.33 to 2.54 X 10(6) for EHDV-2. Seven of 10 double-stranded RNA segments of the 2 serotypes had different electrophoretic mobilities in the polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis system. Although the individual RNA segments of each serotype contained unique RNA sequences determined on the basis of 2-dimensional polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis analysis of oligonucleotides, the corresponding segments of the 2 serotypes were found to be comparable and at least 1 pair of RNA segment was almost identical. Virus-specific polypeptides for the 2 serotypes were compared by use of gel electrophoresis. Eleven polypeptides were detected for EHDV-1 and 10 for EHDV-2. Six corresponding polypeptides of these 2 serotypes had different electrophoretic mobilities, indicating that these corresponding polypeptides differ in their molecular weights. A genetic relationship was not determined between the 2 EHDV serogroups and the blue-tongue serogroup viruses, using oligonucleotides mapping.