The reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used for the detection of bovine coronavirus (BCV) in fecal samples by using reverse transcriptase and two primers which flanked M gene sequence of 407bp. RT-PCR detected bovine coronavirus specifically, but did not detect mouse hepatitis virus (MHV), transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV), and bovine rotavirus (BRV). The M gene sequences of MHV are homologus to that of BCV, but minor differences exist in the primer regions, preventing annealing of the primers. Detection of BCV using RT-PCR was compared with ELISA and the agreement of BCV detection by RT-PCR and ELISA was 95.3%. RNA detection in positive clinical specimens was significantly better by PCR than immunological detection of BCV by ELISA.