HoBi-Like Pestivirus and Its Impact on Cattle Productivity

Abstract

The clinical features and economic impact of the infection caused by an emerging group of pestiviruses, namely HoBi-like pestivirus, in a cattle herd of southern Italy are reported. In 2011, the virus was first associated with respiratory disease, causing an abortion storm after 1 year and apparently disappearing for the following 3 years after persistently infected calves were slaughtered. However, in 2014, reproductive failures and acute gastroenteritis were observed in the same herd, leading to a marked decrease of productivity. A HoBi-like strain closely related to that responsible for previous outbreaks was detected in several animals. Application of an intensive eradication programme, based on the detection and slaughtering of HoBi-like pestivirus persistently infected animals, resulted in a marked improvement of the productive performances.

Genetic Diversity of Bovine Pestiviruses Detected in Backyard Cattle Farms Between 2014 and 2019 in Henan Province, China

“…According to the proposed revision to its taxonomy, the Pestivirus genus includes 11 species, namely Pestivirus A (bovine viral diarrhea virus 1, BVDV-1), Pestivirus B (bovine viral diarrhea virus 2, BVDV-2), Pestivirus C (classical swine fever virus, CSFV) and Pestivirus D (border disease virus, BDV), Pestivirus E (pronghorn pestivirus), Pestivirus F (Bungowannah virus), Pestivirus G (giraffe pestivirus), Pestivirus H (Hobi-like pestivirus), Pestivirus I (Aydin-like pestivirus), Pestivirus J (rat pestivirus), and Pestivirus K (atypical porcine pestivirus) (1). Among these species, Pestivirus A, Pestivirus B, and Pestivirus H aroused great concern because these cause significant economic losses in the cattle industry worldwide (2)(3)(4). Pestivirus A and Pestivirus B are major viruses associated with a number of clinical manifestations that range from mild to severe in feedlot cattle, including respiratory disease, digestive disease, and/or reproductive system disturbances and suppression of the immune system (5)(6)(7).…”

Evidence for Circulation of Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus Type 2c in Ruminants in Southern Italy

“…The genus Pestivirus includes four recognized species: that is, Bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) 1, BVDV‐2, Classical swine fever virus (CSFV) and Border disease virus (BDV), and some tentative species represented by pestiviruses isolated from domestic and wild ungulates (Bauermann et al., ). Among these emerging pestiviruses are Bungowannah virus, detected in swine affected by stillbirth and neonatal death in Australia (Kirkland et al., ) and HoBi‐like pestivirus, associated with BVDV‐like clinical forms in different parts of the world (Decaro et al., , ,b, , , ; Weber et al., ). A divergent pestivirus, named Tunisian‐like pestivirus, has been detected in small ruminants (Thabti et al., ).…”

Comparative analysis of adaptive immune responses following experimental infections of cattle with bovine viral diarrhoea virus-1 and an Asiatic atypical ruminant pestivirus

“…There is discussion on whether atypical ruminant pestiviruses should be recognized as a third BVDV species and if so, what implications this might have, from a regulatory point of view, for currently licensed BVD diagnostics and vaccines as well as for the BVDV control programmes and eradication status of countries and regions [26]. There is increasing evidence of the clinical and epidemiological relevance of these emerging viruses with clinical disease following experimental infection in cattle and sheep and reports of natural infections in Southeast Asia, South America and Europe [5]. Antigenic variation between BVDV-1 and -2 species has already led to the inclusion of BVDV-2 strains in some vaccines [27], and this needs to be considered in the case of atypical ruminant pestiviruses.…”

“…Additionally, eight groups of unclassified pestiviruses have been discovered: giraffe, pronghorn antelope, Bungowannah, atypical ruminant, sheep, bat, rat and atypical porcine pesitiviruses [2,3]. Atypical ruminant pestiviruses, informally referred to as BVDV-3 or HoBi-like viruses, which form a monophyletic clade with a sister relationship to BVDV-1 and -2, have been detected in contaminated foetal bovine serum (FBS) and in natural infections in cattle and buffalo [4,5]. While the evidence suggests atypical bovine pestiviruses are present in cattle in South America, Southeast Asia and Europe, there is a need for broader surveillance to assess the extent of their geographic distribution and the possible impact on current and future BVDV control programs.…”