Genotypic analysis of a localised hotspot of Pestivirus A (BVDV‐1) infections in Northern Ireland

Abstract

BackgroundBovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) is caused by Pestivirus A and Pestivirus B. Northern Ireland (NI) embarked on a compulsory BVD eradication scheme in 2016, which continues to this day, so an understanding of the composition of the pestivirus genotypes in the cattle population of NI is required.MethodsThis molecular epidemiology study employed 5ʹ untranslated region (5ʹUTR) genetic sequencing to examine the pestivirus genotypes circulating in samples taken from a hotspot of BVD outbreaks in the Enniskillen area in 2019.ResultsBovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV)‐1e (Pestivirus A) was detected for the first time in Northern Ireland, and at a high frequency, in an infection hotspot in Enniskillen in 2019. There was no evidence of infection with BVDV‐2 (Pestivirus B), Border disease virus (pestivirus D) or HoBi‐like virus/BVDV‐3 (pestivirus H).LimitationsOnly 5ʹUTR sequencing was used, so supplementary sequencing, along with phylogenetic trees that include all BVDV‐1 genotype reference strains, would improve accuracy. Examination of farm locations and animal movement/trade is also required.ConclusionsGenotype BVDV‐1e was found for the first time in Northern Ireland, indicating an increase in the genetic diversity of BVDV‐1, which could have implications for vaccine design and highlights the need for continued pestivirus genotypic surveillance.