Serological survey for antibodies against pestiviruses in sheep in Austria

The prevalence of antibodies to pestiviruses was investigated in 4931 sheep, in 377 flocks, in four federal states of Austria, by means of an indirect elisa that detected antibodies to Border disease virus (BDV) and bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV). The mean flock prevalence was 62.9 per cent and the mean individual prevalence was 29.4 per cent. Comparative neutralisation studies on the elisa-positive samples with BVDV type 1 (BVDV-1), BVDV type 2 (BVDV-2) and BDV recorded 336 samples with higher titres (more than four times average) to BVDV-1, three samples with higher titres to BVDV-2 and 55 samples with higher titres to BDV. The other samples did not show clear differences in antibody titres against the strains of pestivirus tested because of cross-reactions. The seroprevalence of pestiviruses in sheep was significantly higher on farms with cattle. There were significant regional differences between the prevalences in flocks and individual sheep, the highest prevalences being in the region of Austria where communal alpine pasturing of sheep, goats and cattle is an important part of farming.     

Genetic typing of bovine pestiviruses from England and Wales.

Using RNA purified directly from stored clinical specimens, a collection of 62 pestiviruses were typed by RT-PCR and sequencing within the 5'-untranslated region of the genome. All the specimens had been obtained in 1966/1967 from diary cattle in England and Wales. Eight further pestiviruses, grown in cell culture, were characterised in the same way. Seven of these viruses were representatives of a panel of British isolates, obtained from cattle ten years before. The eighth was the virus used in a British bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) vaccine. Most of the viruses were genetically unique and were of BVDV type Ia. One recent isolate was BVDV type Ib, two others were intermediate between Ia and Ib. No BVDV type II or border disease virus (BDV) isolates were found. There was no overall association between geographical and phylogenetic clustering, suggesting long-distance virus dispersal, presumably via trading of infected cattle. The sequences of the recently obtained cattle viruses were very similar or, in one case, identical to the older isolates in the region studied. Their close similarity to some previously characterised pestiviruses from British sheep suggests that a common pool of BVDV Ia is shared by these two livestock species, although another pestivirus--BVDV--is confined to sheep. The British cattle viruses were mostly distinct from continental European isolates, but more similar to type Ia isolates from North American cattle.     

Seroprevalence of antibodies to ruminant pestiviruses in sheep and goats in Tyrol (Austria)

In this study 2058 blood samples from sheep of 150 flocks from the province of Tyrol were tested by ELISA and serum neutralisation tests for antibodies to ruminant pestiviruses. In the ELISA, positive results were obtained with 34.9% of individual sheep sera and in 89.3% of the sheep flocks. The prevalence in sheep and sheep flocks varied according to areas. Seroprevalence of pestiviruses was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in small ruminants pastured during summertime on the Alps. Comparative neutralisation studies were carried out on all positive blood samples with BVDV-1, BVDV-2 and BDV. 443 seropositive sheep samples exhibited clearly the highest titre against one of the pestivirus strains tested. 413 revealed the highest titres (2 or more fold) to BVDV-1, 6 to BVDV-2 and 24 to BDV. In some areas a very high rate of pestivirus seroprevalence could be found. This fact could be harmful to the BVDV-Elimination and Controlling Program in cattle in Austria.     

Differential diagnosis of classical swine fever and border disease: seroepidemiological investigation of a pestivirus infection on a mixed sheep and swine farm.]

During recent years neutralizing antibodies against Border Disease Virus (BDV) were found repeatedly in German pig herds. Consequently there was a demand for a differential diagnostic system. A permanent sheep cell line and BDV reference strain Moredun were chosen and were applied in a could be used case study. A pestivirus could be isolated from piglets on a mixed farm and was characterised as 'non-Classical Swine Fever' (CSF) by using monoclonal antibodies. Due to a CSF suspicion the pig herd was destroyed immediately. Serum samples of sheep from the same farm were used for further characterisation of the new virus isolate. A neutralization test of the sheep sera was performed against different pestiviruses and the new isolate. Neutralizing antibody titres against the new virus pig isolate were significantly higher than against all other pestiviruses. BDV strain Moredun recognised the antibodies clearly, whereas CSF viral strain Alfort 187 and several isolates of bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) strains scored the lowest cross reaction.     

Identification and molecular characterization of border disease virus (BDV) from sheep in India

Pestiviruses isolated from sheep and goats in India thus far have been bovine viral diarrhoea virus 1 (BVDV-1) or BVDV-2. During routine genetic typing of pestiviruses in the years 2009-10, border disease virus (BDV) was detected in eight Indian sheep of a flock showing clinical signs of BD by real time RT-PCR. All the samples yielded positive virus isolates in cell culture but were found negative by a BVDV antigen ELISA. A representative BDV isolate was characterized at genetic and antigenic level. Phylogenetic analysis carried out in 5′-UTR, N^pro and E2 regions of genome typed the Indian BDV isolate as BDV-3. A more detailed analysis in N^pro and entire region coding structural proteins showed that the N^pro (168), C (100 aa), E^rns (227 aa), E1 (195 aa) and E2 (373 aa) proteins were of size characteristic for BDV reference strain X818. Antigenic differences were evident between the BDV-3 isolate and previously reported BDV-1, BDV-5 and BDV-7 strains. Although origin of BDV-3 in India is not clear, the results reflect probable introduction through trade in sheep between India and other countries or BDV-3 may be more widely distributed. Additionally, this study suggests that for diagnosis of BDV infection, the commercial BVDV Ag-ELISA should be used with caution. This is the first identification of BDV in sheep in India which highlights the need for continued pestivirus surveillance and assessing its impact on sheep and goat production.     

Epidemiological Study of Pestiviruses in South American Camelids in Switzerland

Background: In the context of the ongoing eradication campaign for bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) in cattle in Switzerland, the role of South American camelids (SAC) as a possible virus reservoir needed to be evaluated. Objective: To assess and characterize the prevalence of pestivirus infections in SAC in Switzerland. Animals: Serum samples collected from 348 animals (40 herds) in 2008 and from 248 animals (39 herds) in 2000 were examined for antibodies against pestiviruses and for the presence of BVDV viral RNA. Methods: Cross‐sectional study using stratified, representative herd sampling. An indirect BVDV‐ELISA was used to analyze serum samples for pestivirus antibodies, and positive samples underwent a serum neutralization test (SNT). Real‐time RT‐PCR to detect pestiviral RNA was carried out in all animals from herds with at least 1 seropositive animal. Results: In 2008, the overall prevalence of animals positive for antibodies (ELISA) and pestiviral RNA or was 5.75 and 0%, respectively. In 2000, the corresponding prevalences were 3.63 and 0%, respectively. The seroprevalences (SNT) for BVDV, border disease virus or undetermined pestiviruses were estimated to be 0, 1.73, and 4.02% in 2008, and 0.40, 1.21, and 2.02% in 2000, respectively. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: At the present time, SAC appear to represent a negligible risk of re‐infection for the BVDV eradication program in cattle in Switzerland.     

Prevalence of antibodies to pestiviruses in goats in Austria

Serological investigations were carried out to determine the prevalence of pestiviral infections in goats in Austria, and to investigate the possible relations to herd management practices. The prevalence of antibodies to pestiviruses was investigated in 549 goats in 80 flocks from four regions of Austria. The examination for antibodies was performed using an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay detecting antibodies to the border disease virus (BDV) and bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV). The observed individual prevalence was 11.5% and the flock prevalence was 31.3%. Comparative neutralization studies on the 63 seropositive samples with BVDV-1, BVDV-2 and the BDV yielded in 32 samples higher titres (> or =4-fold) to BVDV-1 and in two samples to BDV. The remaining samples did not show distinct differences in antibody titres against the pestivirus strains tested because of the cross-reactions. There was a significant (P < 0.05) association between the prevalence of antibodies to pestiviruses and the presence of cattle on the farm. Significant (P < 0.05) geographical variations in individual prevalence were obtained, ranging from 3.5% in lower Austria to 20.2% in Vorarlberg.     

Serological evidence for exposure to bovine viral diarrhoea virus in sheep co-grazed with beef cattle in New Zealand

ABSTRACT

Aims: To determine whether sheep that co-grazed with cattle that were suspected to be positive for bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) virus had serological evidence of exposure to the virus.

Methods: Eighteen commercial farms that routinely co-grazed cattle and sheep in the same paddocks were recruited through purposive sampling. The recruiting veterinarians identified nine farms with cattle herds that were known or highly suspected to be positive for BVD and nine farms that were considered to be free of BVD. Blood samples were taken from 15 ewes aged 1 year on each farm and samples were submitted to a commercial diagnostic laboratory to test for antibodies against pestiviruses using an ELISA. All samples that were positive were then tested using a virus neutralisation test (VNT)for antibodies against BVD virus.

Results: Of the 270 blood samples, 17 were positive for pestivirus antibodies by ELISA and these originated from two farms that were known or suspected to have BVD virus-positive cattle. None of the samples from the nine flocks co-grazed with cattle herds that were known or suspected to be BVD virus-negative were positive for pestivirus antibodies. Within the two positive farms, 2/15 samples from the first farm and 15/15 samples from the second farm were antibody-positive. When the 17 positive blood samples were submitted for VNT, all 15 samples from the second farm tested positive for BVD virus antibodies with the highest titre being 1:512.

Conclusions and clinical relevance: In this small sample of New Zealand sheep and beef farms with suspected BVD infection in cattle, there was evidence of pestivirus exposure in co-grazed sheep. Although we were unable to confirm the origin of the exposure in these sheep, these findings highlight that farmers who are trying to eradicate BVD from their cattle should be mindful that the infection may also be circulating in sheep, and both populations should be considered a possible risk to each other for generating transient and persistent infections. Further work is needed to estimate the true prevalence of New Zealand sheep flocks that are affected by BVD and the associated economic impacts.     

Identification of bovine viral diarrhea virus type 1 in yaks (Bos poephagus grunniens) in the Himalayan region

Since cattle are widely infected by bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) in India, we searched for pestivirus infection in yaks. Of 71 pure and crossbred yaks from Himalayan region, pestivirus antigen was detected by Ag-ELISA in three animals. Pestivirus in leukocyte and cell culture isolated virus samples originating from positive yaks was also confirmed by RT-PCR using panpestivirus specific primers selected from 5'-untranslated region (5' UTR). The 5' UTR, N(pro) and E2 regions were sequenced and used for genetic typing. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that pestiviruses detected in three Himalayan yaks were similar genetically, belonging to BVDV-1. Antigenic characterisation of yak pestivirus also confirmed the typing as BVDV-1. This is the first report on the identification of BVDV type 1 in yaks.     

Characterization of porcine and some ruminant pestiviruses by cross-neutralization

Serologic relationships between 11 pestivirus strains that originated from pigs and five that originated from cattle or sheep were studied by cross-neutralization. Experiments were performed with pig and sheep sera raised against the strains. The results were analysed by a computerized taxonomic procedure. The 16 viruses were classified into four distinct serologic groups. All hog cholera virus (HCV) strains were classified in one group; the other three groups consisted of strains that can infect pigs, but that are identified as bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) or border disease virus (BDV), or showed a closer relationship to BVDV and BDV than to HCV.     

The genetic basis for cytopathogenicity of pestiviruses

Two biotypes of pestiviruses, cytopathogenic (cp) and noncp viruses, can be distinguished by their effects on tissue culture cells. Identification of cp bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) has been frequently reported since antigenically closely related noncp and cp BVDV can be isolated from cattle with fatal mucosal disease (MD) and are called a virus pair. In contrast to the BVDV system, only few cp border disease virus (BDV) and cp classical swine fever virus (CSFV) strains have been described. Serological analyses and sequence comparison studies showed that cp pestiviruses arise from noncp viruses by mutation. Elaborate studies during the last 10 years revealed that in most cases RNA recombination is responsible for the generation of the cp viruses. Recent results showed a second way for the development of a cp pestivirus which is based on the introduction of a set of point mutations within the NS2 gene.     

Genetic diversity of ruminant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pestivirus</Emphasis> strains collected in Northern Ireland between 1999 and 2011 and the role of live ruminant imports

Background

The genus pestivirus within the family Flaviviridae includes bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) types 1 and 2, border disease virus (BDV) and classical swine fever virus. The two recognised genotypes of BVDV are divided into subtypes based on phylogenetic analysis, namely a-p for BVDV-1 and a-c for BVDV-2.

Methods

Three studies were conducted to investigate the phylogenetic diversity of pestiviruses present in Northern Ireland. Firstly, pestiviruses in 152 serum samples that had previously tested positive for BVDV between 1999 and 2008 were genotyped with a RT-PCR assay. Secondly, the genetic heterogeneity of pestiviruses from 91 serum samples collected between 2008 and 2011 was investigated by phylogenetic analysis of a 288 base pair portion of the 5’ untranslated region (UTR). Finally, blood samples from 839 bovine and 4,437 ovine animals imported in 2010 and 2011 were tested for pestiviral RNA. Analysis of animal movement data alongside the phylogenetic analysis of the strains was carried out to identify any links between isolates and animal movement.

Results

No BVDV-2 strains were detected. All of the 152 samples in the first study were genotyped as BVDV-1. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the predominant subtype circulating was BVDV-1a (86 samples out of 91). The remaining five samples clustered close to reference strains in subtype BVDV-1b. Out of the imported animals, 18 bovine samples tested positive and 8 inconclusive (Ct ≥36), while all ovine samples were negative. Eight sequences were obtained and were defined as BVDV-1b. Analysis of movement data between herds failed to find links between herds where BVDV-1b was detected.

Conclusion

Given that only BVDV-1a was detected in samples collected between 1968 and 1999, this study suggests that at least one new subtype has been introduced to Northern Ireland between 1999 and 2011 and highlights the potential for importation of cattle to introduce new strains.

     

Genetic comparison of ovine and bovine pestiviruses

Viral RNA oligonucleotide fingerprinting was used to compare genetic relationship among pestiviruses originating from ovine or bovine host species. Ovine pestiviruses, including reference border disease virus and 2 border disease isolates originating from natural pestivirus infections of sheep, appeared to have a more distant genetic relationship among themselves than with certain bovine pestiviruses. A closer genetic relatedness was evident between border disease virus and 3 noncytopathic bovine pestiviruses, including Draper bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), a BVDV isolate that originated from aborted bovine fetuses, and a virus that was isolated from the serum of a calf that had a chronic BVDV infection. Four noncytopathic bovine viruses, including Draper BVDV and 3 field isolates, were closely related. Reference Oregon C24V BVDV, a cytopathic virus, was closely related to only 1 of the 7 noncytopathic viruses in this study.