Restriction endonuclease analysis of herpesviruses isolated from two peninsular bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis cremnobates).

Abstract

In 1989, herpesviruses were isolated from nasal swabs taken from two peninsular bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis cremnobates) in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, San Diego County, California (USA). Using restriction endonuclease analysis (REA) with Pst1 enzyme, each isolate was found to be similar to the Cooper strain of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus (IBRV). The REA patterns of the two herpesviruses from bighorn sheep were typical of either field strains or vaccine strains of IBRV commonly associated with cattle in the USA.