AbstractLectin cytochemistry was used to detect viral specific proteins in infected bovine turbinate cells as a means of diagnosing the presence of various virus. Six lectins having different properties were evaluated for binding to bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV), bovine viral diarrhea (BVD), bovine herpesvirus-I (BHV-l), and bovine herpesvirus-II (BHV-2). BRSV, BHV-1, and BHV-2 were detected. Three lectins,Phaseolus limensis, Phaseolus vulgaris, andGlycine maxcould not detect any virus, Three lectins that could detect one or more virus includedVicia villosa B4, Helix pomatia, andHelix aspersaLectins as a detection tool have a considerable level of specificity for binding to virus associated proteins. This work shows that this characteristic and others allow lectins to be a powerful means to diagnose viral infection. (The J Histotechnol12:115, 1989).