Genetic analysis of NS5B gene from bovine viral diarrhea virus-infected cattle in Central and East Java, Indonesia

Molecular detection and genotyping of bovine viral diarrhea virus in Selangor, Malaysia

Objective

Bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) disease is a viral infection in cows caused by a single-stranded plus-sense RNA virus of the Pestivirus genus under the Flaviviridae family. The clinical manifestation of BVD mainly includes diarrhea and immunosuppression, thereby exacerbating various respiratory diseases. This study was conducted to detect and molecularly characterize the bovine viral diarrhea disease virus (BVDV) in cattle on selected farms in Selangor, Malaysia.

Materials and Methods

A reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed for antigen detection in 253 plasma samples collected from cows using a cross-sectional study design. We selected the 5 untranslated regions (5'-UTR) region and the E2 region to compare the genetic differences between the isolates.

Results

One sample was found to be positive (1/253) following RT-PCR targeting the conserved 5'-UTR region of BVDV. Thus, BVDV antigen prevalence was 0.40% (95% confidence interval: 0.0%-2.2%). By targeting the hypervariable E2 region of the isolated virus, UPM/MAL/BVDV/D17, the virus was classified under the subgenotype BVDV-1a.

Conclusion

BVDV is present and circulating on selected cattle farms in Selangor, Malaysia. Given the presence of BVDV in several subgenotypes, the screening of all incoming cattle at Malaysia's border is pertinent to prevent the entry of other BVDV subgenotypes into the country.

Detection and characterization of bovine viral diarrhea virus in beef cattle imported from Australia to West Java, Indonesia

Background and Aim

To meet domestic demand for meat, Indonesia imports live cattle from Australia, which have non-bovine viral diarrhea (BVD)-free status. The consequence of importing live cattle from Australia is potentially introducing a novel BVD variant to Indonesia. Therefore, detecting BVD early and determining the agent's characteristics and clinical symptoms are necessary. This study aimed to detect and characterize clinical symptoms of bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) and highlight the importance of farm management as a risk factor for the spread of BVD. This study aimed to provide information about the effectiveness of preventive measures against BVD in Australian-imported cattle at the Tanjung Priok Seaport Agricultural Quarantine. Bovine viral diarrhea is among the most common diarrheal diseases found in feedlots and is a severe health and economic problem in cattle.

Materials and Methods

All cattle in a selected feedlot were examined for clinical symptoms on their first day of arrival. The sampling criteria included age, body weight, body temperature (BT), animal breath (AB), pulse (PL), conjunctivitis (CJ), hyperlacrimation (HL), hypersalivation (HS), DR, fever, limping leg (LL), emaciation, stomatitis (ST), weakness (WK), and coronitis (CR). In addition, 64 blood samples were taken from cattle that exhibited clinical symptoms of BVD. On the 3rd day of arrival, a blood sample showing positive clinical symptoms was examined using antigen (Ag)-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The data from these clinical symptoms were analyzed alongside the laboratory results using multidimensional scale analysis, heatmap distribution, and principal component analysis (PCA). Furthermore, the positive serum samples obtained from the Ag-capture ELISA underwent a nested multiplex polymerase chain reaction and molecular detection and genetic characterization of BVDV based on the 5' untranslated region of the viral genome, followed by sequence and phylogenetic tree analyses.

Results

Using PCA, 12 clinical symptom characteristics of BVD were determined from 13 clinical symptoms synergized with five cattle positive for Ag-capture ELISA. The clinical symptoms included internal factors such as physiological conditions of CJ, HL, HS, DR, BT, LL, loss of appetite, ST, WK, CR, AB, and PL. The screening test showed that five samples tested positive for the BVD Ag, while 59 tested negative. Phylogenetic tree analysis using a 360-nucleotide portion of the NS5B gene showed that Sample B23F5R had a distinct path compared to the other two samples in the phylogenetic diagram. The profile of sample B23F5R was closely related to BVDV reference subgenotype 1-a group (NCBI, access no. LC068605), with a homology percentage of 92.36%. Furthermore, this sample was similar to the BVDV reference 1-a, Strain 12, identified in Japan. The other two samples, B13F5R and A13F5R, showed close resemblance to the BVDV reference subgenotype 1-a that had been previously identified in Indonesia (NCBI, access no. MK411755), with homology percentages of 97.81% and 97.75%, respectively.

Conclusion

The BVDV-1a strain is the main subtype present in beef cattle imported from Australia to West Java, Indonesia. The characteristics of clinical symptoms associated with BVD infection comprised 12 symptoms synergized with the positive sample in the PCA. The present results can facilitate the development of preventive and control measures for BVD circulation in Indonesia.

First study on genetic variability of bovine viral diarrhea virus isolated from Sapera dairy goats with reproductive disorders in Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Background and Aim

Bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) virus (BVDV) is an important viral pathogen of cattle that can infect diverse artiodactyl species. The clinical manifestations caused by BVDV in heterologous hosts, as they do in cattle, vary, although respiratory and reproductive failures are commonly reported. BVDV infections commonly result in reproductive failure in goats, with abortion being the primary clinical sign. In central Java, Indonesia, BVDV infection has been reported in two clinically healthy local goat species, and the testing indicated infection by BVDV Type 1. However, the genetic diversity of viruses has not been described in healthy or ill goats. The objectives of the present study were as follows: (1) To investigate the genetic variation of BVDV isolated from Sapera dairy goats with naturally occurring reproductive disorders in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, using the 5' untranslated region (5' UTR) and (2) to study the possible correlation between reproductive disorders and the presence of BVDV in the flock.

Materials and Methods

Blood samples were collected in October 2021 from 39 goats that had been individually reported to have reproductive disorders. The serum samples were subjected to molecular detection and genetic characterization of BVDV based on the 5' UTR of the viral genome, followed by sequencing and phylogenetic analyses. Viral isolation was performed on BVDV-positive samples to analyze the viral biotypes.

Results

BVDV infection was detected in five out of 39 female goats. The clinical status of the BVDV-infected goats was abortion (n=2), metritis (n=1), and repeated breeding (n=2). All antigen-positive samples were confirmed as BVDV type 1a (BVDV-1a) and noncytopathic (NCP)-BVDV biotype.

Conclusion

The BVDV-1a and NCP biotypes are the main subtypes and biotypes present in Sapera dairy goats exhibiting reproductive failure. This result is consistent with previous results in dairy cattle in Yogyakarta. The reported results can facilitate the design of methods for the prevention and control of BVD circulating in Indonesia.

The Epidemiology and Control of Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus in Tropical Indonesian Cattle

This review aims to update the knowledge of the epidemiology of Bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) in Indonesia and Southeast Asia and provide a perspective on the control options for BVDV in the Indonesian cattle population in the future. Studies on BVDV in Indonesia, since its first report in that country, and the updated beef and dairy cattle industries are reviewed. In ten of 34 provinces, BVDV is endemic. The subgenotypes of BVDV-1a and BVDV-1c are predominant in Indonesian cattle. However, BVDV is currently not a priority disease to control in Indonesia. Cattle imports from Australia appear to be potentially the most significant source of transmission of BVDV into native cattle, but the control of BVDV conducted in the local quarantine facilities is currently not achieving the aim of controlling BVDV; thus, complementary measures are needed. With the small-scale nature of the vast majority of cattle breeding in the country, the control of BVDV in provinces in which cattle breeding is economically essential may need to be organised by regional and provincial governments. Gaps in our knowledge of BVDV are identified in this review, and strategies for the control of BVDV in Indonesia are discussed.

Detection of Pestivirus in small ruminants in Central Java, Indonesia

Background and Aim:

Globally, pestiviruses are among the most economically important viral pathogens of livestock. The genus Pestivirus comprises four species, including bovine viral diarrhea virus type 1 and 2 (BVDV-1 and BVDV-2), which infect cattle, border disease virus and classical swine fever virus which infect small ruminants and pigs, respectively. Accumulating evidence suggests that pestiviruses are no longer species-specific, creating new challenges for disease control. In Indonesia, investigations related to pestiviruses remain focused on cattle as the primary host and no research has been conducted on small ruminants (sheep and goats). Therefore, the present study aimed to study the possible occurrence of pestivirus (BVDV or BVD) infections in small ruminants in Indonesia, particularly in Central Java.

Materials and Methods:

We used 46 blood samples consisting of 26 sheep’s blood and 20 goat’s blood. Samples were selected from 247 small ruminant blood collected between July and October 2020 in Central Java, Indonesia, which met the following criteria: Female, local species, approximately 1-2 years old, never been pregnant, raised in the backyard, and had no close contact with cattle in either shelter or grazing area. We tested plasma samples from sheep and goats using competitive antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect specific antibodies against pestivirus followed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis for all positive samples to differentiate the species of pestivirus.

Results:

Two of the 20 samples collected from goats were positive for pestivirus at the serological and molecular levels, whereas 2 of 26 samples collected from sheep were doubtful but tested negative by RT-PCR. The genotyping test results obtained using nested PCR revealed that the positive samples collected from goats had a BVDV-1 genotype.

Conclusion:

The results of the present study demonstrated that BVDV-1 can infect species other than bovines, in Central Java, Indonesia. Further studies involving a larger number of samples are required to: (1) Determine the actual seroprevalence of pestiviruses in small ruminants and (2) Determine the potency of small ruminants as reservoirs for pestiviruses, both of which are important for the identification of the appropriate control program for pestiviruses in Indonesia.

Infection with Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus in Cattle in Southern Papua, Indonesia

The aim of this preliminary study was to determine the prevalence of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) and its association with reproductive problems in cattle in Timika, Southern Papua, Indonesia, an emerging area for beef production. Serum from 77 beef cattle was collected from four villages and tested, using both antibody and antigen ELISA kits for BVDV. Data of the villages of origin, age, breed, sex and the number of parities of the cattle were collected. The pregnancy status of the cattle was determined by rectal examination. Results showed that the prevalence of BVDV antibody in individual cattle in Timika was 11.7% (CI: 6.1 - 20.0%), while at the farm level the antibody prevalence was 18.4% (CI: 8.9 - 33.7%).). Seropositivity for BVDV increased with age (P=0.02), from 0% (CI: 0 - 37.2%) in less than two-years old to 28.6% (CI: 11.3 - 55.0%) in cattle older than eight years of age. BVDV antibody was 2.9 times more prevalent in non-pregnant cows than in antibody negative cows (CI: 1.02 - 8.14, P=0.04). BVD antigen was not detected in the present study. This study reported for the first time, evidence of infection with BVDV in cattle in Papua and indicated that BVDV infection may be associated with infertility.