A snapshot on Pestivirus A strains occurring in Central Europe.

Abstract

Seven dairy farms and a beef herd were sampled to reveal the presence of bovine viral diarrhoea viruses (BVDV) in the cattle population and provide information on the occurrence of the different genotypes of the virus in Hungary and Slovakia. Serum and organ samples, lung, and lymph nodes were collected and submitted to serological testing, RT-qPCR, nucleotide sequencing, and virus isolation. The detected viruses belonged to 1b, 1d, and 1f subtypes. No Pestivirus B was found. Serum samples of cows immunized with a live vaccine containing a subtype 1a virus (Oregon C24V) showed cross-neutralizing activity against the selected representative field strains of each subtype. An RT-qPCR, specific for the vaccine strain was developed to differentiate between vaccine and field viruses and was used to evaluate vaccine virus viraemia and shedding. The obtained data provide baseline information on the currently occurring BVDV genotypes in the region and contribute to elaborating efficient control strategies.