Characterisation of bubaline coronavirus strains associated with gastroenteritis in water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) calves

Abstract

Recently, a coronavirus strain (179/07-11) was isolated from water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) and the virus which displayed a strict genetic and biological relatedness with bovine coronavirus (BCoV) was referred to as bubaline coronavirus (BuCoV). Here, we report the characterisation of four BuCoVs strains identified in the faeces or intestinal contents of water buffalo calves with acute gastroenteritis. Single BuCoV infections were detected in all but one cases from which two clostridia species were also isolated. Sequence and phylogenetic analyses of the 5' end of the spike-protein gene showed that three BuCoVs were closely related to the prototype strain 179/07-11, whereas the fourth isolate (339/08-C) displayed a higher genetic identity to recent BCoV reference strains. Three strains adapted to the in vitro grow on human rectal tumour cells were also evaluated for their ability to replicate in a bovine cell line (Madin Darby bovine kidney) and to cause haemagglutination of chicken erythrocytes and all displayed biological properties similar to those already described for the prototype BuCoV. The present report shows that albeit genetically heterogeneous, the different BuCoV strains possess a common biological pattern which is different from most BCoV and BCoV-like isolates.

Isolation of an equine coronavirus from adult horses with pyrogenic and enteric disease and its antigenic and genomic characterization in comparison with the NC99 strain

“…Betacoronavirus, the species Betacoronavirus-1 with human coronaviruses OC43 (HCoV-OC43), human enteric coronavirus, bovine coronavirus (BCoV), porcine hemagglutinating encephalomyelitis virus (PHEV), canine respiratory coronavirus (CRCoV) (Erles et al, 2007), and bubaline coronavirus (BuCoV) (Decaro et al, 2010). Coronavirus-like agents have been previously identified by electron microscopy in the feces of foals and adult horses having enteric disease with fever (Bass and Sharpee, 1975;Huang et al, 1983).…”

Canine Coronavirus: Not Only an Enteric Pathogen

“…13 This virus displays high sequence identity to bovine coronavirus (BCoV) 14,15 and is now recognized as a host variant of the unique species Betacoronavirus-1 of the genus Betacoronavirus, 1 together with BCoV and BCoV-related viruses. 16,17…”

Canine coronavirus infection in dogs in Turkey: Virologicaland serological evidence

“…CCoV viral RNA detection from blood sample was reported by Decaro et al (2010) from one experimentally infected by CB/05 on dog (Decaro and Buonavoglia, 2011) during viremia. Leukocyte positive result obtained from this research is in accordance with the results of other researchers (Decaro and Buonavoglia, 2011).…”