title: Resurgence of bovine ephemeral fever in mainland Japan in 2015 after a 23-year absence.
abstract: In September and October 2015, suspected cases of bovine ephemeral fever (BEF) were reported in the mainland region of Kagoshima Prefecture and on Tanegashima Island. The genome of the BEF virus (BEFV) was detected in the diseased cows and the cows that had recovered. The serum obtained from the affected cows contained high titers of BEFV-neutralizing antibody. In total, 18 affected cows were demonstrated to be infected with BEFV during the outbreak. Our findings showed evidence that BEF occurred in mainland Japan after a 23-year absence. Phylogenetic analysis based on the surface glycoprotein (G) gene revealed that BEFVs detected in the affected cows were genetically distinct from previous Japanese BEFVs, but were close to BEFVs circulating in Taiwan and mainland China in recent years. Amino acid substitution in the neutralizing epitope domains of the G protein was limited between the detected viruses and the vaccine strain (YHL isolate), and high titers of the neutralizing antibody against the YHL isolate were induced in the infected cattle during the disease occurrences. Therefore, current BEF vaccines probably elicit protective immunity against the BEFVs detected in 2015, although their effectiveness should be assessed. Since the BEFV vaccination rates are estimated to be low, a BEF outbreak should be considered a possibility in mainland Japan.
authors.affiliation: Kagoshima Central Livestock Hygiene Service Center, 1678 Yuda, Higashiichiki, Hioki, Kagoshima 899-2201, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshimasa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hirashima
authors.affiliation: Kagoshima Central Livestock Hygiene Service Center, 1678 Yuda, Higashiichiki, Hioki, Kagoshima 899-2201, Japan.|Nansatsu Livestock Hygiene Service Center, 4210-18 Kohri, Chiran, Minamikyushu, Kagoshima 897-0302, Japan.
authors.forename: Mariko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nojiri
authors.affiliation: Kumage Branch, Kagoshima Central Livestock Hygiene Service Center, 6065 Noma, Nakatane, Kagoshima 891-3604, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ohtsuka
authors.affiliation: Kyushu Research Station, National Institute of Animal Health, NARO, 2702 Chuzan, Kagoshima 891-0105, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.affiliation: Kyushu Research Station, National Institute of Animal Health, NARO, 2702 Chuzan, Kagoshima 891-0105, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shirafuji
authors.affiliation: Kumage Branch, Kagoshima Central Livestock Hygiene Service Center, 6065 Noma, Nakatane, Kagoshima 891-3604, Japan.
authors.forename: Mitsuteru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kurazono
authors.affiliation: Nansatsu Livestock Hygiene Service Center, 4210-18 Kohri, Chiran, Minamikyushu, Kagoshima 897-0302, Japan.
authors.forename: Toyoshige
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Imafuji
authors.affiliation: Kyushu Research Station, National Institute of Animal Health, NARO, 2702 Chuzan, Kagoshima 891-0105, Japan.
authors.forename: Tohru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yanase
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing / Q000097:blood; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D002417:Cattle; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary; D004810:Ephemeral Fever / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D018115:Ephemeral Fever Virus, Bovine / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000821:virology; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D014765:Viral Vaccines
keywords: BEFV; arbovirus; bovine ephemeral fever; febrile illness; rhabdovirus