Genetic diversity of Brazilian bovine pestiviruses detected between 1995 and 2014

Authors: SILVERIA, S - Federal University Of Rio Grande Do Sul; WEBER, M - Federal University Of Rio Grande Do Sul; MOSENA, A - Federal University Of Rio Grande Do Sul; DA SILVA, M - Federal University Of Rio Grande Do Sul; STRECK, A - Federal University Of Rio Grande Do Sul; PESCADOR, C - Universidade Federal De Mato Grosso; FLORES, E - Universidade Federal De Santa Maria; WEIBLEN, R - Universidade Federal De Santa Maria; DRIEMEIER, D - Federal University Of Rio Grande Do Sul; Ridpath, Julia; CANAL, C - Federal University Of Rio Grande Do Sul

Submitted to: Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/18/2015
Publication Date: 9/28/2015
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/61953
Citation: Silveria, S., Weber, M.N., Mosena, A.C., Da Silva, M.S., Streck, A.F., Pescador, C.A., Flores, E.F., Weiblen, R., Driemeier, D., Ridpath, J.F., Canal, C.W. 2015. Genetic diversity of Brazilian bovine pestiviruses detected between 1995 and 2014. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases. doi: 10.1111/tbed.12427.

Interpretive Summary: Infection with bovine pestiviruses are a problem for beef and dairy producers around the world. Bovine pestiviruses include the viral species bovine viral diarrhea virus type 1 (BVDV1), BVDV2 and HoBi-like viruses. The commercial cattle herd in Brazil is the largest in the world. Brazil is a major exporter of cattle products (including meat, dairy products and cattle derived products such as serum proteins, casein and fetal bovine serum) internationally. While it is known that all three viral species circulate in Brazilian cattle the relative prevalence and presence of subspecies is unknown. The goal of this study was to determine the species and subspecies of bovine pestiviruses isolated in Brazilian veterinary diagnostic laboratories over a 20 year time span. It was found that bovine pestiviruses circulating in Brazil belong to three different species and seven different subgenotypes. Two of the subgenotypes were identified in Brazilian cattle for the first time. This particular combination of pestivirus species and subgenotypes has not been observed anywhere else in the world. These findings suggest that vaccines against bovine pestiviruses that are effective in North America and Europe may not work well in Brazil and that testing prior to exportation should be designed to detect the bovine pestiviruses currently circulating in Brazil.

Technical Abstract: Pestivirus infections in ruminants result in significant economic losses worldwide. The etiological agents are three species from the genus Pestivirus, family Flaviviridae, including Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus type 1 (BVDV-1), BVDV-2, Border Disease Virus (BDV), and an atypical pestivirus named HoBi-like pestivirus. In the present study, eighty-nine pestivirus isolates that were collected in Brazil between 1995 and 2014 and that originated from either cattle, fetal bovine serum (FBS) or as cell culture contaminants were genotyped based on a comparison of gene sequences from their 5’ untranslated regions (5’UTR), N-terminal autoprotease (Npro) and envelope glycoprotein 2 (E2). Of these isolates, 53.9% of the sequences were genotyped as BVDV-1, 33.7% as BVDV-2 and 12.4% as HoBi-like pestivirus. The prevalence of subgenotypes within the species was as follows: BVDV-1a (35.9%), BVDV-2b (31.4%), BVDV-1b (10.1%), BVDV-1d (6.7%), BVDV-2c (2.2%) and BVDV-1e (1.1%). BVDV-2c and BVDV-1e were detected for the first time in Brazil. This study revealed extensive genetic diversity among Brazilian pestivirus isolates, and the combination of pestiviruses that was detected is unique to Brazil. This information may serve as a foundation for designing and evaluating diagnostic tools and in the development of more effective vaccines; therefore, it may potentially contribute to pestivirus control and eradication.and BVDV-1e (1.1%). BVDV-2c and BVDV-1e were detected for the first time in Brazil. This study revealed extensive genetic diversity among Brazilian pestivirus isolates, and the combination of pestiviruses that was detected is unique to Brazil. This information may serve as a foundation for designing and evaluating diagnostic tools and in the development of more effective vaccines; therefore, it may potentially contribute to pestivirus control and eradication.