Abstract. Fast and accurate detection of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks is needed to limit spread of the disease by proper vaccination. The use of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has revolutionized the way in which viral diseases are diagnosed. Sequence analysis of the amplified VP1 sequence can enable the classification of FMD virus detected in the morbid animal. PCR assays were carried out to identify the virus and its serotype in suspect animals from 2 outbreaks of FMD type O virus. Sequence analysis of the amplified VP1 cDNA showed 78% homology with O1K and over 95% homology between the samples. These findings suggest that the 2 outbreaks were due to infection with the same virus serosubtype.Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is one of the most dangerous viruses of ruminants. The speed with which it spreads and its ability to change its antigenic identity makes it very threatening to the beef and dairy industries of many countries. There are 7 different virus serotypes that do not cross-react antigenically; these are the results of mutations within the VP1 gene (changes in nucleotide sequences 4,9,15 ). Each serotype consists of many subtypes, about 80 total. 2 The virus belongs to the genus Aphthovirus in the family Picornaviridae. The virus genome is an 8.5-kilobase (kb) single strand of RNA in the plus orientation, carrying a poly A tract at its 3' end and a viral genome protein (VPg) at its 5' end. 3,6 The virion, an icosahedral capsid, consists of 60 copies of each of the four proteins, VP1-4, of which VP1 is the main protein determining antigenic identity. 1,10 The differences in VP1 sequences are the basis for developing reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests to identify different serotypes. 12,14 These RT-PCR tests are based on differences in VP1 gene sequences among the many virus serotypes. Using methods developed previously, 14 2 outbreaks of infection with FMDV O serotype were diagnosed in Israel. In addition, the amplified VP1 segments were sequenced, showing that the outbreaks were caused by the same virus subtype that was first isolated in Oman in 1989. according to the manufacturer's instructions. VP1 primers are shown in Table 1, and RT-PCR conditions were as previously described. 14 Following PCR, amplified VP1 fragments were electrophoresed on 1.5% low-melting-point agarose and extracted as previously described. 13 The isolated fragments were sequenced using an automatic sequencer b with one of the PCR primers as the sequencing primer, and computer sequence analysis was done. c