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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Animal Disease Center » Ruminant Diseases and Immunology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #305077
Title: Genetic and antigenic characterization of Bungowannah virus, a novel pestivirus

Author
item KIRKLAND, P - Nsw Department Of Primary Industries
item FROST, M - Nsw Department Of Primary Industries
item KING, K - Nsw Department Of Primary Industries
item FINLAISON, D - Nsw Department Of Primary Industries
item HORNITZKY, C - Nsw Department Of Primary Industries
item GU, X - Nsw Department Of Primary Industries
item RICHTER, M - Friedrich-Loeffler-institut
item REIMANN, L - Friedrich-Loeffler-institut
item DAUBER, M - Friedrich-Loeffler-institut
item SCHIRRMEIER, H - Friedrich-Loeffler-institut
item BEER, M - Friedrich-Loeffler-institut
item Ridpath, Julia

Submitted to: Veterinary Microbiology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/21/2015
Publication Date: 5/24/2015
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/61250
Citation: Kirkland, P.D., Frost, M.J., King, K.R., Finlaison, D.S., Hornitzky, C.L., Gu, X., Richter, M., Reimann, L., Dauber, M., Schirrmeier, H., Beer, M., Ridpath, J.F. 2015. Genetic and antigenic characterization of Bungowannah virus, a novel pestivirus. Veterinary Microbiology. 178(3-4):252-259. DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2015.05.014.

Interpretive Summary: Pestiviruses are a group of viruses, known as a viral genus, with a long history of causing disease in commercial livestock. Originally this virus genus had just three members, also known as species. These three species were bovine viral diarrhea virus, classical swine fever virus and border disease virus. Recently new viruses have been discovered that share characteristics unique to pestiviruses, but do not match the original three species. One of these new viruses is known as bungowannah virus. It was isolated from pigs and was associated with fetal and newborn death. This study details how bungowannah virus is similar to other pestiviruses and how it is different. This information is key to the design of diagnostics that will detect and differentiate between different pestivirus species. As not all pestivirus species are present in all parts of the world, designing tests that will differentiate between them is important to preventing the introduction of specific pestivirus species into new regions.

Technical Abstract: Bungowannah virus, a possible new species of pestivirus, has been associated with a disease syndrome in pigs characterised by myocarditis with a high incidence of stillbirths. The current studies have identified the entire viral genome sequence, confirming the unique identity of this virus and suggest that it is genetically and antigenically remote from previously recognised pestiviruses. While this virus has the same general genomic arrangement, it has a relatively low degree of homology with other pestiviruses and also has different antigenic properties. There was no evidence of reactivity with monoclonal antibodies that are generally considered to be pan-reactive with other viruses in the genus and there was usually little cross reactivity with polyclonal sera. Subsequently, specific monoclonal antibodies were generated to detect Bungowannah virus. Collectively these data confirm that Bungowannah virus is a genetically and antigenically remote virus from other pestiviruses and meets criteria for classification as a new species in the genus Pestivirus.