title: Genotypes of Pestivirus RNA detected in anti-influenza virus vaccines for human use.
abstract: Nine polyvalent human influenza virus vaccines were tested by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for the presence of pestivirus RNA. Samples were selected from manufacturers in Europe and the USA. Three samples of the nine vaccines tested (33.3%) gave positive results for pestivirus RNA. The 5'-untranslated genomic region sequence of the contaminant pestivirus RNA was analysed based on primary nucleotide sequence homology and on secondary sequence structures characteristic to genotypes. Two sequences belonged to Pestivirus type-1 (bovine viral diarrhoea virus [BVDV]) species, genotypes BVDV-1b and BVDV-1e. These findings confirm previous reports, suggesting an improvement in preventive measures against contamination of biological products for human use.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche Veterinarie, Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giangaspero
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vacirca
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Harasawa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Buttner
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Panuccio
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Giuli Morghen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zanetti
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Belloli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Verhulst