title: Characterization of BoHV-5 field strains circulation and report of transient specific subtype of bovine herpesvirus 5 in Argentina.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bovine herpesvirus 5 (BoHV-5) is a member of the subfamily Alphaherpesvirinae responsible for meningo-encephalitis in young cattle. The first case of bovine meningo-encephalitis associated with a herpesvirus infection was reported in Australia. The current geographical distribution of BoHV-5 infection is mainly restricted to South America, especially Brazil and Argentina. Outbreaks of BoHV-5 are regularly observed in Argentina suggesting the circulation of the virus in the bovine population.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventeen field strains of BoHV-5 isolated from 1984 to now were confirmed by differential PCR and subjected to restriction endonuclease analysis (REA). Viral DNA was cleaved with BstEII which allows the differentiation among subtypes a, b and non a, non b. According to the REA with BstEII, only one field strain showed a pattern similar to the Argentinean A663 strain (prototype of BoHV-5b). All other isolates showed a clear pattern similar to the Australian N569 strain (prototype of BoHV-5a) consistent with the subtypes observed in Brazil, the other South-American country where BoHV-5 is known to be prevalent. The genomic region of subtype b responsible for the distinct pattern was determined and amplified by PCR; specifically a point mutation was identified in glycoprotein B gene, on the BstEII restriction site, which generates the profile specific of BoHV-5b.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first report of circulation of BoHV-5a in Argentina as the prevailing subtype. Therefore the circulation of BoHV-5b was restricted to a few years in Argentina, speculating that this subtype was not able to be maintained in the bovine population. The mutation in the gB gene is associated with the difference in the restriction patterns between subtypes "a" and "b".
authors.affiliation: Veterinary and Agricultural Science Research Centre (CICVyA), National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA), N, Repetto y Los Reseros S/N, CC25 (B1712WAA), Castelar, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Silvina S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Maidana
authors.forename: María F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Ladelfa
authors.forename: Sandra E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.forename: Patricia M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Lomónaco
authors.forename: María P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Del Médico Zajac
authors.forename: Anselmo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Odeón
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blanco Viera
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Combessies
authors.forename: Norberto
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fondevila
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Palacios
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thiry
authors.forename: Benoît
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Muylkens
authors.forename: Etienne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Thiry
authors.forename: Sonia A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Romera
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary*; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D025881:Herpesvirus 5, Bovine / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D017354:Point Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D015183:Restriction Mapping / Q000662:veterinary; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins