Author
 |
Ridpath, Julia |
|
Submitted to: US-Japan Coop Pgm on Dev and Util of Natural Products Abstracts Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 9/4/1996 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Viruses belonging to the Pestivirus genus, of the Flavivirus family, are enveloped and contain a positive-sense single-stranded genome averaging 12.5 Kb in length. The three currently recognized pestivirus species, bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), hog cholera virus (HCV or CSFV), and border disease virus (BDV) of sheep, are associated with enteric disease, respiratory disease, reproductive failure, and immunosuppression in host animals. The cost of pestivirus infections, to cattle industry alone in the U.S., is estimated at $7 billion annually. Historically, BVDV and BDV were classified to viral species based on the animal species from which they isolated. Thus, a pestivirus isolated from cattle was assumed to be BVDV and a pestivirus isolated from sheep was likely classified as BDV. Because pestiviruses may cross species barriers, this type of classification is problematic. Classification systems based on serology have been confounded both by cross-reactivity between pestivirus species and antigenic variability within pestivirus species. In our laboratory, we have used phylogenetic analysis to segregate pestiviruses into two major groups, each of which consists of two distinct viral genotypes. One major group contains the HCV and BDV viral genotypes while the other major group consists of two genotypes of BVDV, BVDV type 1, and BVDV type 2. Detection, characterization, and differentiation of pestivirus groups and subgroups will benefit regulatory agencies, diagnostic laboratories, and the veterinary biologics industry. |
