A polymerase chain reaction (PCR), utilizing thymidine kinase (tk) primer set of bovine herpesvirus-1, virus
isolation (VI) on MDBK cell culture, indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) were conducted for
detection of BoHV-1 in suspected cattle and buffalo nasal swabs that obtained from four governorates in
Egypt (Qalubeya, Menofya, Kafer El-sheikh and Beharia). A total of 9/93 (9.6%) of cattle and 4/65 (6.2%)
of buffalo nasal swabs were BoHV-1 positive in this study. PCR was superior to immunodetection using
IFA after VI procedure in cell culture. Besides, it was the most discriminative assay that detected BoHV-1
viral DNA extracted directly from (100%) of buffalo and (88.9) of cattle clinical specimens. These PCR
negative viral isolates were regarded as antigenically related, yet genetically distinct, other ruminant
herpesviruses that require further studies. Findings of this study emphasized the BoHV-1 tk based PCR as
a sensitive, discriminative and rapid tool for detection of BoHV-1 infections, without confusion with other
ruminant herpesviruses.