title: Genetic diversity of bovine viral diarrhea virus 1: Italian isolates clustered in at least seven subgenotypes.
abstract: Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is an economically important pathogen of cattle. Two approved species are recognized, namely BVDV-1 and BVDV-2. To date, only 4 subgenotypes of BVDV-2 are known, and at least 11 distinct subgenotypes have been detected for BVDV-1. In a previous study, the genetic characteristics of 38 field isolates of BVDV from northern Italy were investigated, and all 38 isolates were classified as BVDV-1 and could be assigned to 5 different subgenotypes, namely BVDV-1b, BVDV-1d, BVDV-1e, BVDV-1h, and BVDV-1f. However, the circulation of BVDV-2 has been reported in Italy as well. The aim of the current study was to type 88 BVD viruses found throughout Italy. Genetic study was based on the 5'-UTR, supported by select comparison within the N(pro) coding region. Phylogenetic analysis showed that 5 isolates could be typed as BVDV-2a. The remaining 83 isolates were typed as BVDV-1 and were found to belong to 7 distinct subgenotypes, namely BVDV-1a (n = 8), BVDV-1b (n = 37), BVDV-1d (n = 3), BVDV-1e (n = 22), BVDV-1f (n = 4), BVDV-1g (n = 4), and BVDV-1h (n = 5). The majority of cattle farms in the current study were predominantly infected by BVDV-1b and BVDV-1e isolates, whereas the other BVDV subgenotypes occurred only sporadically. The results also provided evidence for circulation of additional subgenotypes BVDV-1a and BVDV-1g. The occurrence of BVDV-2 was also reconfirmed.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Umbria e delle Marche, via Salvemini 1, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giammarioli
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pellegrini
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Casciari
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Gian Mario
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: De Mia
mesh_terms: D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D000818:Animals; D001769:Blood / Q000821:virology; D002417:Cattle / Q000382:microbiology*; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D030241:Diarrhea Virus 1, Bovine Viral / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D007558:Italy; D010802:Phylogeny; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D044967:Serum / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D012367:RNA, Viral