Characterisation of bubaline coronavirus strains associated with gastroenteritis in water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) calves.
Recently, a coronavirus strain (179/07-11) was isolated from water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) and the virus which displayed a strict genetic and biological relatedness with bovine coronavirus (BCoV) was referred to as bubaline coronavirus (BuCoV). Here, we report the characterisation of four BuCoVs strains identified in the faeces or intestinal contents of water buffalo calves with acute gastroenteritis. Single BuCoV infections were detected in all but one cases from which two clostridia species were also isolated. Sequence and phylogenetic analyses of the 5' end of the spike-protein gene showed that three BuCoVs were closely related to the prototype strain 179/07-11, whereas the fourth isolate (339/08-C) displayed a higher genetic identity to recent BCoV reference strains. Three strains adapted to the in vitro grow on human rectal tumour cells were also evaluated for their ability to replicate in a bovine cell line (Madin Darby bovine kidney) and to cause haemagglutination of chicken erythrocytes and all displayed biological properties similar to those already described for the prototype BuCoV. The present report shows that albeit genetically heterogeneous, the different BuCoV strains possess a common biological pattern which is different from most BCoV and BCoV-like isolates.
Decaro
Nicola
N
Department of Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Strada per Casamassima Km 3, Valenzano, Bari, Italy. n.decaro@veterinaria.uniba.it
Cirone
Francesco
F
Mari
Viviana
V
Nava
Donatella
D
Tinelli
Antonella
A
Elia
Gabriella
G
Di Sarno
Alessandra
A
Martella
Vito
V
Colaianni
Maria Loredana
ML
Aprea
Giuseppe
G
Tempesta
Maria
M
Buonavoglia
Canio
C
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002020:Buffaloes / Q000821:virology*; D017934:Coronavirus / Q000235:genetics*; D018352:Coronavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary*; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics*; D006386:Hemagglutination Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D064370:Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics
D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D012367:RNA, Viral; D064370:Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins