Genetic diversity of recent bovine viral diarrhoea viruses from the southeast of Austria (Styria)

• Published in: Veterinary microbiology 2003-02, Vol.91 (2), p.285-291
• Main Authors: Vilcek, Stefan, Greiser-Wilke, Irene, Durkovic, Branislav, Obritzhauser, Walter, Deutz, Armin, Köfer, Josef
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 5' Untranslated Regions - chemistry; 5' Untranslated Regions - genetics; Animal viral diseases; Animals; Austria - epidemiology; Biological and medical sciences; Bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV); Bovine Virus Diarrhea-Mucosal Disease - epidemiology; Bovine Virus Diarrhea-Mucosal Disease - microbiology; Cattle; Diarrhea Viruses, Bovine Viral - classification; Diarrhea Viruses, Bovine Viral - genetics; Diarrhea Viruses, Bovine Viral - isolation & purification; Disease Reservoirs - veterinary; Epidemiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetic typing; Genetic Variation; Genetics; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; Microbiology; Phylogeny; Polymerase Chain Reaction - veterinary; RNA, Viral - chemistry; RNA, Viral - genetics; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Viral diseases; Virology
• ISSN: 0378-1135; 1873-2542
• DOI: 10.1016/S0378-1135(02)00296-1

To characterise the bovine virus diarrhoea virus (BVDV) isolates circulating in the southeastern region of Austria, namely in the province of Styria, 71 blood samples collected between 1998 and 2000 from persistently infected cattle in 62 herds were subjected to genetic typing. For this, 288 bp fragments from the 5′ untranslated region (5′-UTR) were amplified by polymerase chain reaction after reverse transcription (RT-PCR). The products were sequenced and used for phylogenetic analysis. Seventy virus isolates were typed as BVDV species 1 (BVDV-1). Only one isolate was typed as BVDV species 2 (BVDV-2), representing the first isolate of this pestivirus genotype found in Austria. In addition, phylogenetic analysis revealed that viruses belonging to five genetic groups within BVDV-1 are circulating in Styria. Most viruses (53) were found in group BVDV-1f, nine viruses in BVDV-1h, four viruses in BVDV-1b, three viruses in BVDV-1d and one virus in BVDV-1g. No virus was found in genetic group BVDV-1a, which is dominant in the UK and widely distributed in USA. Likewise, the BVDV isolates predominating in a neighbouring country, namely Germany, belonged to different genogroups than those circulating in Styria. We conclude that in a particular region and environment certain BVDV-1 genetic groups predominate. New groups, including BVDV-2, can be introduced, e.g. by trade of animals. The low incidence of BVDV-2 in Styria is in concert with the sporadic occurrence of these viruses in other regions of Europe.