Characterization of(BVDV-2, Subtype c) Isolates in Northern Italy Using Whole-Genome Sequencing.

Abstract

Bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) is a major cause of economic losses in the global cattle industry, particularly in countries characterized by intensive livestock production systems., formerly known as Bovine viral diarrhea virus type 2 (BVDV-2), is the current taxonomic designation according to the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV). Between 2005 and 2018,was detected in cattle herds in mainland Italy, particularly in the Lombardy region. Four viral strains were successfully isolated in cell cultures and subjected to whole-genome sequencing. Phylogenetic reconstruction placed all Italian isolates within thesubgenotype c, a lineage encompassing strains reported in Asia, Europe and the United States. Consistently, comparative sequence identity analyses indicated the highest similarity with the Parker strain (USA, 1991) and the Potsdam 1600 strain (Germany, 2000). These results contribute to a more detailed understanding ofgenomic architecture and evolutionary dynamics, providing a valuable resource for comparative genomic studies. Such data are crucial for exploring viral diversity and evolution, optimizing the design of diagnostic primers and probes, and advancing insights into the molecular epidemiology of.