Analysis of a pair of END+ and END- viruses derived from the same bovine viral diarrhea virus stock reveals the amino acid determinants in Npro responsible for inhibition of type I interferon production.

The Exaltation of Newcastle disease virus (END) phenomenon is induced by the inhibition of type I interferon in pestivirus-infected cells in vitro, via proteasomal degradation of cellular interferon regulatory factor (IRF)-3 with the property of the viral autoprotease protein N(pro). Reportedly, the amino acid residues in the zinc-binding TRASH motif of N(pro) determine the difference in characteristics between END-phenomenon-positive (END(+)) and END-phenomenon-negative (END(-)) classical swine fever viruses (CSFVs). However, the basic mechanism underlying this function in bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) has not been elucidated from the genomic differences between END(+) and END(-) viruses using reverse genetics till date. In the present study, comparison of complete genome sequences of a pair of END(+) and END(-) viruses isolated from the same virus stock revealed that there were only four amino acid substitutions (D136G, I2623V, D3148G and D3502Y) between two viruses. Based on these differences, viruses with and without mutations at these positions were generated using reverse genetics. The END assay, measurements of induced type I interferon and IRF-3 detection in cells infected with these viruses revealed that the aspartic acid at position 136 in the zinc-binding TRASH motif of N(pro) was required to inhibit the production of type I interferon via the degradation of cellular IRF-3, consistently with CSFV.

Molecular, biological, and antigenic characterization of a Border disease virus isolated from a pig during classical swine fever surveillance in Japan.

In the current study, molecular, biological, and antigenic analyses were performed to characterize Border disease virus (BDV) strain FNK2012-1 isolated from a pig in 2012 in Japan. The complete genome comprises 12,327 nucleotides (nt), including a large open reading frame of 11,685 nt. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that FNK2012-1 was clustered into BDV genotype 1 with ovine strains. FNK2012-1 grew in porcine, bovine, and ovine primary cells and cell lines, but grew better in bovine and ovine cells than in porcine cells. Specific pathogen-free pigs inoculated with FNK2012-1 did not show any clinical signs. Noninoculated contact control pigs also did not show clinical signs and did not seroconvert. The results suggest that FNK2012-1 may be of ruminant origin and is poorly adapted to pigs. Such observations can provide important insights into evidence for infection and transmission of BDV, which may be of ruminant origin, among pigs.

Methods to select suitable fetal bovine serum for use in quality control assays for the detection of adventitious viruses from biological products.

Production of biological products, especially vaccines, usually requires materials derived from animals, and there are always risks that animal pathogens derived from these materials could contaminate the final products. Detection of adventitious agents is performed by quality control tests. In these biological assays, animal derived materials are also used and another problem arises, as fetal bovine serum (FBS) is used as an ingredient in tissue culture media. FBS contaminated with bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) or other bovine pathogens, as well as antibodies against these pathogens may lead to false results in quality control assays. In this study, in order to determine the actual status of commercial FBS, we performed quality tests on various FBS samples. As a result, in 28 of 49 FBS samples (57.1%), pestivirus genes were detected by pan-pestivirus reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay. Furthermore, two samples contained infectious BVDV. Neutralizing antibodies against BVDVs were detected in 48 of 49 samples (97.6%) by the virus neutralization test based on the serum-dilution or virus-dilution methods. Antibodies against other bovine pathogens were detected rarely in these samples. From our results, we recommend methods to select FBS that are focused on detection of BVDV and neutralizing antibodies against BVDV.

A taxonomic study on erysipelothrix by DNA-DNA hybridization experiments with numerous strains isolated from extensive origins.

The purpose of this study was to clarify the taxonomic relationship between all the serovars and species of the genus Erysipelothrix by performing DNA-DNA hybridization experiments, the customary criterion for separation of bacterial genospecies. A total of 93 strains were isolated from a wide variety of sources, including pigs affected with acute or chronic erysipelas, other diseased animals, healthy animals, fish, retail meats, and environmental materials from throughout the world during the period 1958 to 1996. The present data on phenotypic characterization and DNA relatedness values demonstrate that 24 strains (96%) of E. tonsillarum are avirulent for swine, whereas 39 strains (66%) of genomic E. rhusiopathiae induced generalized or local urticarial lesion in swine after intradermal inoculation. This observation suggests that genomic E. tonsillarum has little etiological significance. Three minor groups contained several strains which exhibited minimal association with each type strain of E. rhusiopathiae and E. tonsillarum. In conclusion, it was confirmed that members of the E. rhusiopathiae and E. tonsillarum groups resemble each other in regard to many phenotypic characteristics, but differ in their ability to produce acid from saccharose and in their pathogenicity for swine. The genus Erysipelothrix certainly contains two main species: E. rhusiopathiae and E. tonsillarum.

Genomic analyses of bovine viral diarrhea viruses isolated from cattle imported into Japan between 1991 and 2005.

Thirty-one isolates of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) isolated within the past 15 years from imported cattle by the Japanese Animal Quarantine Service (AQS) were used in this study in which a 5'-untranslated region of each isolate was genetically analyzed. Twenty-six of the 31 isolates were classified as BVDV1 and the remainder as BVDV2. Phylogenetic analysis of the RT-PCR fragments amplified from the isolates showed the presence of viruses belonging to the BVDV1a, BVDV1b, BVDV1c, unclassified BVDV1 genotypes, and BVDV2. From the cattle of Australian origin, 16 of 17 isolates were classified as BVDV1c. This result was in agreement with a report showing that BVDV1c was a predominant subgenotype in Australia. From the cattle of North American origin, BVDV1 and BVDV2 species were both found. BVDV2 from the North American cattle was identified as the same cluster as the BVDV 890 strain, which is the prototype of BVDV2. These results suggest that the BVDVs isolated from exported cattle at the AQS reflect the predominant genotypes of BVDVs found in the exporting countries. The unclassified BVDV1 genotype of Chinese origin was in the same cluster as the ZM-95 strain, which was isolated from pigs in China. In this study, the genomic properties of 31 isolates of BVDV collected in the AQS were investigated. We concluded that isolates are genetically heterogeneous but geographically restricted. The information obtained from this report will be useful when carrying out epidemiological surveys of BVDV isolated in Japan.

Relationship of bovine viral diarrhea virus persistent infection to incidence of diseases on dairy farms based on bulk tank milk test by RT-PCR.

The prevalence of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) in dairy herds in Hokkaido, Japan, was estimated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using bulk tank milk samples. Sixteen out of 265 dairy herds were identified as BVDV positive, and at least one persistently infected (PI) cattle was recognized in each of the positive herds except for two herds of which, owners did not agree to examine individual cows. The proportion of positive herds with a history of BVDV PI was significantly higher than that with no history of BVDV PI (odds ratio (OR) 4.25, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.471-12.278, p = 0.004). The herds examined for BVDV were divided into two groups, high and low disease incidence groups based on the occurrence of diseases such as diarrhea, pneumonia or abortion in the past 1 year. The BVDV positive herds in the high disease incidence group were significantly more than that in the low disease incidence group (OR 2.92, CI 1.110-7.683, p = 0.024). It was observed that there were significantly (p = 0.008) more PI calves or heifers in farms of high disease incidence group than in farms of low disease incidence group. These results suggested that bulk tank milk test was available method for the detection of PI animals in dairy herds, and the existence of PI non-lactating cows in herd correlated with the incidence of diseases of the diarrhea or respiratory disorders.