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A study was conducted to investigate the serological prevalence of Border Disease Virus (BDV) antibodies in newly introduced Dorper sheep flocks at Debre Birhan Agricultural Research Center (DBARC), Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein of 186 sheep in the research center and the serum was decanted and sent to the National Animal Health Diagnostic and Investigation Center, Sebeta, Ethiopia for laboratory examination. All serum samples were examined using blocking ELISA test with a sensitivity of 94.3% and specificity of 93.7% to detect antibodies for BDV. Of these, 55 (29.57%) tested sero-positive and the rest 131 (70.43%) tested sero-negative for BDV antibodies. The sero-prevalence of sheep born in the research center was found at 23.97% (29/121) whereas the sero-prevalence of those sheep imported directly from abroad was found at 40% (26/65). In this research, a higher prevalence of BDV antibodies were recorded in the imported sheep than in the sheep which are born in the research center and the difference in prevalence between the two groups was found statistically significant (P<0.05). Therefore, it is of utmost importance to study the status of the disease from indigenous breeds of sheep and utilize more sensitive tests such as RT-PCR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chlamydia abortus is one of the most common infectious and zoonotic bacteria, which causes abortion in different ruminants as well as other animals and humans. For the first time in Iraq, the current study aimed to identify the prevalence of C. abortus in cattle using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A total of 276 venous blood samples were collected from November (2021) to January (2022), subjected to obtaining sera that ELISA tested. Infection severity and estimation of the relationship between serum positivity and risk factors (including age, sex and region) were evaluated. An overall 17.03% of samples were being positive for C. abortus, which classified as mild (63.83%), moderate (25.53%) and severe (10.64%) infections with OD values of 0.3271±0.0085, 0.527±0.0139 and 0.7084±0.0256, respectively. The association of positivity to risk factors revealed that there was significant variation in their values as follows: for age, significant increases in prevalence and risk factors were detected in cattle aged <3 years when compared to 3-6 and >6 years; whereas, for sex, significant increases were found in females more than males. For the region, significant higher and lower prevalence and risk exposure to were reported in Al-Hai and Al-Kut, respectively. The association of mild, moderate and severe infections to risk factors showed that moderate infection was elevated significantly in cattle of <3 years, while the mild infection increased significantly in cattle aged 3-6 and >6 years with the absence of severe infection in both last age groups. In females and males and all study regions, mild infection appeared more significantly than moderate and severe infections (P<0.05). The present study was the first serological detection of C. abortus in cattle in Wasit province (Iraq); furthermore, studies are necessary to estimate the prevalence of C. abortus in cattle and other field animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) is an economically important and highly prevalent virus of domestic cattle. Infections with BVDV may lead to both, reproductive and immunological effects that can result in widespread calf losses and increased susceptibility to diseases, such as mastitis and respiratory disease. While BVDV is generally considered to be host specific, it and other Pestivirus species, such as Border disease virus (BDV) in sheep, have been shown to be infecting species other than those from which they were originally isolated from. Recently BVDV was placed on the OIE’s list of notifiable disease and control and eradication programmes for BVDV have been developed throughout much of Europe, the United States, and the United Kingdom. While some countries, including Sweden and Ireland have successfully implemented eradication programmes, other countries such as New Zealand and Australia are still in the early stages of BVDV control. Despite effective control methods, incursions of BVDV into previously cleared herds still occur. While the cause of these incursions is often due to lapses in control methods, the ability of ruminant pestiviruses to infect species other than cattle poses the question as to whether non-bovine species could be impeding the success of BVDV eradication and control. As such, the aim of this review is to make mention of what is known about the cross-species transmission of BVDV, BDV and other pestiviruses between cattle and non-bovine ungulate species and draw conclusions as to the risk non-bovine species pose to the successful control and eradication of BVDV from cattle.

A serum neutralization test (SNT) is an essential method for the serological diagnosis of pestivirus infections, including classical swine fever, because of the cross reactivity of antibodies against pestiviruses and the non-quantitative properties of antibodies in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In conventional SNTs, an immunoperoxidase assay or observation of cytopathic effect after incubation for 3 to 7 days is needed to determine the SNT titer, which requires labor-intensive or time-consuming procedures. Therefore, a new SNT, based on the luciferase system and using classical swine fever virus, bovine viral diarrhea virus, and border disease virus possessing the 11-amino-acid subunit derived from NanoLuc luciferase was developed and evaluated; this approach enabled the rapid and easy determination of the SNT titer using a luminometer. In the new method, SNT titers can be determined tentatively at 2 days post-infection (dpi) and are comparable to those obtained by conventional SNTs at 3 or 4 dpi. In conclusion, the luciferase-based SNT can replace conventional SNTs as a high-throughput antibody test for pestivirus infections.

Subsequent to a previous study of border disease virus (BDV) horizontal transmission from a persistently BDV-infected calf to 6 seronegative pregnant heifers, the heifers were slaughtered 60 days after exposure to the infected calf, and their fetuses and placentas were examined. Immunohistochemical examination of fetal organs and placenta showed positive labeling of moderate intensity for pestivirus antigen in 3 of 6 heifers. BDV infection in these 3 animals was confirmed by the detection of BDV RNA in different organs using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. In the placenta, the positive cells were visualized mostly on the fetal side. In those 3 heifers that harbored an infected fetus, the placental tissue in the placentome region showed a moderate to severe mononuclear and fibrosing placentitis and, in severe cases, necrotic areas. The inflammatory population was composed predominantly of T and B cells, a substantial number of macrophages, and, to a lesser extent, plasma cells. This is a novel report of placentitis in persistently BDV-infected fetuses from pregnant heifers that became acutely infected by cohousing with a calf persistently infected with BDV, which extends previous reports on bovine viral diarrhea virus–infected and BDV-infected cattle and sheep, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Border disease has been assessed according to the criteria of the Animal Health Law (AHL), in particular criteria of Article 7 on disease profile and impacts, Article 5 on the eligibility of Border disease to be listed, Article 9 for the categorisation of Border disease according to disease prevention and control rules as in Annex IV and Article 8 on the list of animal species concerned by Border disease. The assessment has been performed following a methodology composed of information collection and compilation, expert judgement on each criterion at individual and, if no consensus was reached before, also at collective level. The output is composed of the categorical answer, and for the questions where no consensus was reached, the different supporting views are reported. Details on the methodology used for this assessment are explained in a separate opinion. According to the assessment performed, Border disease can be considered eligible to be listed for Union intervention as laid down in Article 5(3) of the AHL. The disease would comply with the criteria as in Sections 3, 4 and 5 of Annex IV of the AHL, for the application of the disease prevention and control rules referred to in points (c), (d) and (e) of Article 9(1). The animal species to be listed for Border disease according to Article 8(3) criteria are mainly sheep and other species of the family Bovidae as susceptible and reservoirs.

Border disease has been assessed according to the criteria of the Animal Health Law (AHL), in particular criteria of Article 7 on disease profile and impacts, Article 5 on the eligibility of Border disease to be listed, Article 9 for the categorisation of Border disease according to disease prevention and control rules as in Annex IV and Article 8 on the list of animal species concerned by Border disease. The assessment has been performed following a methodology composed of information collection and compilation, expert judgement on each criterion at individual and, if no consensus was reached before, also at collective level. The output is composed of the categorical answer, and for the questions where no consensus was reached, the different supporting views are reported. Details on the methodology used for this assessment are explained in a separate opinion. According to the assessment performed, Border disease can be considered eligible to be listed for Union intervention as laid down in Article 5(3) of the AHL. The disease would comply with the criteria as in Sections 3, 4 and 5 of Annex IV of the AHL, for the application of the disease prevention and control rules referred to in points (c), (d) and (e) of Article 9(1). The animal species to be listed for Border disease according to Article 8(3) criteria are mainly sheep and other species of the family Bovidae as susceptible and reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In 2008, a program to eradicate bovine virus diarrhea (BVD) in cattle in Switzerland was initiated. After targeted elimination of persistently infected animals that represent the main virus reservoir, the absence of BVD is surveilled serologically since 2012. In view of steadily decreasing pestivirus seroprevalence in the cattle population, the susceptibility for (re-) infection by border disease (BD) virus mainly from small ruminants increases. Due to serological cross-reactivity of pestiviruses, serological surveillance of BVD by ELISA does not distinguish between BVD and BD virus as source of infection. Results: In this work the cross-serum neutralisation test (SNT) procedure was adapted to the epidemiological situation in Switzerland by the use of three pestiviruses, i.e., strains representing the subgenotype BVDV-1a, BVDV-1h and BDSwiss-a, for adequate differentiation between BVDV and BDV. Thereby the BDV-seroprevalence in seropositive cattle in Switzerland was determined for the first time. Out of 1,555 seropositive blood samples taken from cattle in the frame of the surveillance program, a total of 104 samples (6.7%) reacted with significantly higher titers against BDV than BVDV. These samples originated from 65 farms and encompassed 15 different cantons with the highest BDV-seroprevalence found in Central Switzerland. On the base of epidemiological information collected by questionnaire in case- and control farms, common housing of cattle and sheep was identified as the most significant risk factor for BDV infection in cattle by logistic regression. Conclusion: This indicates that pestiviruses from sheep should be considered as a source of infection of domestic cattle and might well impede serological BVD surveillance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Border disease virus (BDV) affects a wide range of ruminants worldwide, mainly domestic sheep and goat. Since 2001 several outbreaks of disease associated to BDV infection have been described in Pyrenean chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica pyrenaica) in Spain, France and Andorra. In order to reconstruct the most probable places of origin and pathways of dispersion of BDV among Pyrenean chamois, a phylogenetic analysis of 95 BDV 5’untranslated sequences has been performed on chamois and domestic ungulates, including novel sequences and retrieved from public databases, using a Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo method. Discrete and continuous space phylogeography have been applied on chamois sequences dataset, using centroid positions and latitude and longitude coordinates of the animals, respectively. The estimated mean evolutionary rate of BDV sequences was 2.9×10−3 subs/site/year (95% HPD: 1.5–4.6×10−3). All the Pyrenean chamois isolates clustered in a unique highly significant clade, that originated from BDV-4a ovine clade. The introduction from sheep (dated back to the early 90s) generated a founder effect on the chamois population and the most probable place of origin of Pyrenean chamois BDV was estimated at coordinates 42.42 N and 1.9 E. The pathways of virus dispersion showed two main routes: the first started on the early 90s of the past century with a westward direction and the second arise in Central Pyrenees. The virus spread westward for more than 125 km and southward for about 50km and the estimated epidemic diffusion rate was about 13.1 km/year (95% HPD 5.2–21.4 km/year). The strong spatial structure, with strains from a single locality segregating together in homogeneous groups, and the significant pathways of viral dispersion among the areas, allowed to reconstruct both events of infection in a single area and of migrations, occurring between neighboring areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 5´-untranslated region of Pestivirus strains isolated from domestic and wild animals were analysed to determine their taxonomic status according to nucleotide changes in the secondary genomic structure using the palindromic nucleotide substitutions (PNS) method. A total of 131 isolates out of 536 Pestivirus strains evaluated, were clustered as Border disease virus (BDV) species. The BDV strains were further divided into at least 8 genotypes or subspecies. Thirty-two isolates from small ruminants suffering from clinical symptoms of Border disease were clustered into bovine viral diarrhoea virus 1 (BVDV-1), BVDV-2 and classical swine fever (hog cholera) virus species and also into the tentative BDV-2 species. Since the definition of an infectious disease is based primarily on a specific causative pathogen and taking into account the heterogeneity of the genus Pestivirus, clinical cases should be named according to the laboratory results. The PNS procedure could be useful for laboratory diagnosis of Border disease in domestic and wild ruminants.

Described is the first outbreak of Border disease in a sheep flock in Austria and its impact on the cattle housed on the same farm. Border disease virus infected sheep are a high risk for pestivirus introduction in susceptible cattle herds and should therefore induce a complete revision of the Austrian Bovine viral diarrhea virus program.

Sera from 1,448 adult ewes in 91 flocks, representing all 26 counties in the Republic of Ireland, were examined for pestivirus antibodies using a commercially available ELISA which detected IgG1 antibody to border disease virus. Eighty-one sheep (5.6%) in 42 flocks (46.0%) were antibody-positive. Within infected flocks, the mean seroprevalence level was 11.4% with a range of 6.3% to 30.0%. The highest antibody prevalence was detected in sheep from central lowland counties of Ireland. Comparative neutralisation testing of 42 ELISA-positive sera detected geometric mean antibody titres of 136 to the NADL strain of bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV), 92 to the Moredun strain of border disease virus and 21 to the 137/4 strain of border disease virus. These results suggest that BVDV may be the major ruminant pestivirus infecting sheep in Ireland. Although there are high numbers of infected flocks, many sheep within such flocks remain antibody-negative and are at risk of giving birth to lambs with congenital border disease.

A two-month-old lamb showing signs of severe neurological disease characterized by muscular tremors, hypermetria, and motor incoordination was submitted to the Veterinary Pathology Laboratory - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. At necropsy, the major findings were a marked reduction of the size of the cerebellum and bilateral dilatation of the lateral ventricles. Microscopically, areas of cellular disorganization in the cerebellar cortex, reduction of the granular layer of cerebellum associated with decreased density of cells, and the presence of large cytoplasmic vacuoles in the molecular layer were observed. Neurons of the gray matter of the brain and macrophages of the mesenteric lymph nodes stained positively by the immunohistochemistry test using the monoclonal antibody 15C5 against Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus. Taken together, those results are consistent with a pestivirus infection, either Border Disease Virus (BDV) or BVDV.

Infections with Classical swine fever virus (CSFV) are a major economic threat to pig production. To combat CSF outbreaks and to maintain trade, new marker vaccines were developed that allow differentiation of infected from vaccinated animals (DIVA principle). The chimeric pestivirus CP7_E2alf was shown to be safe and efficacious. Its DIVA strategy is based on the detection of CSFV Erns-specific antibodies that are only developed on infection. However, for the new marker vaccine to be considered a valuable control tool, a validated discriminatory assay is needed. One promising candidate is the already commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, PrioCHECK CSFV Erns ELISA (Prionics BV, Lelystad, The Netherlands). Four laboratories of different European Union member states tested 530 serum samples and country-specific field sera from domestic pigs and wild boar. The ELISA displayed a good robustness. However, based on its reproducibility and repeatability, ranges rather than single values for diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were defined. The ELISA displayed a sensitivity of 90–98% with sera from CSFV-infected domestic pigs. A specificity of 89–96% was calculated with sera from domestic pigs vaccinated once with CP7_E2alf. The ELISA detected CSFV infections in vaccinated domestic pigs with a sensitivity of 82–94%. The sensitivity was lower with sera taken ≤21 days post-challenge indicating that the stage of CSFV infection had a considerable influence on testing. Taken together, the PrioCHECK CSFV Erns ELISA can be used for detection of CSFV infections in CP7_E2alf-vaccinated and nonvaccinated domestic pig populations, but should only be applied on a herd basis by testing a defined number of animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study describes the transmission of border disease virus (BDV) from a persistently infected calf to seronegative heifers in early pregnancy, resulting in persistently infected fetuses. On day 50 of pregnancy (= day 0 of the infection phase), six heifers were co-housed in a free stall with a bull calf persistently infected with BDV (pi BVD) for 60 days. The heifers underwent daily clinical examination, and blood samples were collected regularly for detection of pestiviral RNA and anti-pestivirus antibodies. After day 60 (= day 110 of pregnancy), the heifers were slaughtered, and the fetuses and placentae underwent post-mortem and immunohistochemical examination and RT-PCR for viral RNA detection. Results: Three heifers had mild viraemia from day 8 to day 14, and by day 40 all heifers had pestivirus antibodies identified as anti-BDV antibodies in the serum neutralisation test. The placenta of the three viraemic heifers had histological evidence of inflammation, and fetal organs from these heifers were positive for pestivirus antigen by immunohistochemical examination and for BD viral RNA by RT-PCR and sequencing. Thus, co-housing of heifers in early pregnancy with a pi-BDV calf led to seroconversion in all heifers and persistent fetal infection in three. Conclusions: Considering that pi-BDV cattle can infect other cattle and lead to persistent infection of the fetus in pregnant cows, BDV should not be ignored in the context of the mandatory BVDV eradication and monitoring program. This strongly suggests that BDV should be taken into account in BVD eradication and control programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Goats were grouped into three health categories based on the clinically and serologically proven cases: infected nonaborting (group A) (n = 10), infected aborting (group B) (n = 10), and non-infected (group C) (n = 10). In all groups, blood samples were collected and analysed for malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) levels in plasma, haptoglobin (Hp) and amyloid A (SAA) in serum, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities in erythrocytes. A statistically significant decrease in GSH-Px and SOD activities and increase in MDA, NO, Hp, and SAA levels were observed in groups A and B compared to group C. Additionally, MDA, NO, Hp, and SAA levels of the aborting goats were significantly higher, whereas SOD levels were lower than those of the non-aborting groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Border disease virus (BDV) is an important pathogen in sheep and goat production. Neither epidemiological investigation nor any reports of BDV infection was available in China. During Jan to Apr, 2012, several herd goats in Anhui and Jiangsu provinces in eastern China suffered unremitting diarrhea, with morbidity and mortality of about 28-37% and 10-15%, respectively. In the present study, sera and tissue samples from diseased goats of four farms were taken for BDV detection, isolation and identification. Results: Panpesti generic primers and border disease virus (BDV)-specific primers targeting the 5'-UTR region produced RT-PCR positive bands for sera (24/28) and tissue samples (7/30). Twenty positive sera and tissue samples were inoculated onto Madin-Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cells for virus isolation. Finally, three different strains of BDV, named AH12-01, AH12-02 and JS12/04, were successfully isolated as identified by RT-PCR using 5'-UTR and Npro gene primers, sequencing and electron microscopy. Sequences of 5'-UTR and Npro genes of them were used for phylogenetic analysis and comparison to other reference sequences available in GenBank. The results indicated AH12-01, AH12-02 and JS12/04 possess high relationship with the BDV 3 group viruses and differed with each other Conclusion: This is the first detection of BDV from goats with diarrhea and confirmation of BDV infection in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 2001 several outbreaks of a new disease associated with Border disease virus (BDV) infection have caused important declines in Pyrenean chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica) populations in the Pyrenees. The goal of this study was to analyze the post-outbreak BDV epidemiology in the first two areas affected by disease with the aim to establish if the infection has become endemic. We also investigated if BDV infected wild and domestic ruminants sharing habitat with chamois. Unexpectedly, we found different epidemiological scenarios in each population. Since the disease outbreaks, some chamois populations recuperated quickly, while others did not recover as expected. In chamois from the first areas, prevalence was high (73.47%) and constant throughout the whole study period and did not differ between chamois born before and after the BDV outbreak; in all, BDV was detected by RT-PCR in six chamois. In the other areas, prevalence was lower (52.79%) and decreased during the study period; as well, prevalence was significantly lower in chamois born after the disease outbreak. No BDV were detected in this population. A comparative virus neutralisation test performed with four BDV strains and one Bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) strain showed that all the chamois had BDV-specific antibodies. Pestivirus antibodies were detected in all the rest of analyzed species, with low prevalence values in wild ruminants and moderate values in domestic ruminants. No viruses were detected in these species. These results confirm the hypothesis that outbreaks of BDV infection only affect the Pyrenean chamois, although other wild ruminants can occasionally be infected. In conclusion, two different scenarios have appeared since the first border disease outbreaks in Pyrenean chamois: on the one hand frequent BDV circulation with possible negative impact on population dynamics in some areas and on the other, lack of virus circulation and quick recovery of the chamois population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the test characteristics of a blocking antibody ELISA applied to bulk-tank milk (BTM) samples for the detection of dairy sheep flocks positive for antibodies to border disease virus. In 161 flocks recruited in 2009 and 2010, the antibody inhibition percentage (AIP) in BTM was compared with the prevalence estimate of antibody-positive ewes obtained from an age-representative sample of 45 milking ewes. A strong negative exponential relationship (R² = 0.89) was found between AIP in BTM and seroprevalence level. Using receiver operating characteristic analysis, the best AIP decision threshold in BTM to discriminate between low (<10%) and high (≥10%) antibody-positive flocks was 65%. Diagnostic performance estimates based on observed seroprevalence levels and Monte Carlo simulations showed that this threshold value was associated with high sensitivity and specificity (91.9 ± 5.5% and 95.9 ± 1.6%, respectively), whereas the 80% decision threshold recommended in dairy cows yielded lower specificity (83.6 ± 2.0%). Results obtained from the same flocks during 2 subsequent milking campaigns showed that the 65% AIP cut-off value was associated with fewer false-positive results and is preferred. Testing of BTM samples could be a powerful tool in inferring border disease virus seroprevalence in a flock and in Pestivirus control schemes in dairy sheep flocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study on the prevalence of Border disease virus (BDV) among sheep from the northern districts in Japan. BDV is an species in the genus Pestivirus of the family Flaviviridae. The researchers collected samples of ovine sera and subjected them to neutralization peroxidase-linked antibody test in order to determine the presence of antibodies against BDV. Based from the result of the study, the researchers concluded that there is no relationship between BDV infection and the reduction in ewe fertility and lamb mortality.

Background: Pestiviruses cause economically important diseases in domestic ruminants worldwide. Border Disease is a congenital viral infection of sheep, caused by a pestivirus, and is first reported in the Border region of Wales and England. The BDV has worldwide distribution in sheep with different prevalences among countries. Vertical transmission is an important route in the epidemiology of this virus. Infection of fetuses may cause birth of persistently infected lambs, that are viremic, antibody negative, and are excreting virus. The disease is characterized by abortion, barren ewes, stillbirth and persistently infected weak lambs showing neurological and dermatological signs. The economic importance of the disease is related to reproductive failure, abortions and significantly low survival rate of affected lambs. In the present study the aim was to describe clinical, hematological and seological aspects of natural Border disease virus (BDV) infection in a sheep flock in Cine, Aydin. Besides we sought to elucidate the relationship between natural (active infection) and persistent BDV disease and the serum concentration of haptoglobin (Hp) and serum amyloid A (SAA) in infected sheep. Materials, Methods & Results: Field observations were carried out in a sheep flock comprising 327 sheep with a history of an outbreak abortion in Cine town in Aydin, Turkey. Twenty-five out of 327 sheep in the flock was monitorized by blood sampling. The animals were selected among aborted ones, at least once, into two weeks preceeding period or with a history of weak lambing. BDV antigen (persistent infection) was detected in 8 out of 25 sheep (32%) while antiviral antibodies (active infection) were detected in 18 animals tested (68%). The disease was mainly characterized by abortions, stillbirth/weak lamb and abnormal brown/black fleece pigmentation, which occurred in an epidemic form. Twentyfive sheep were related to disease condition as detected serologically, and the ratio of the number affected to number at risk being was 17:8. The culling rate was 50% of the affected animals. Most of the affected animals were second lambing sheep (5/25, 20%). Hematological variables did not reveal statistical difference whereas serum concentrations of Hp (P < 0.05) and SAA (P < 0.01) were significantly higher in naturally infected sheep in contrast to persistently infected sheep with BDV. Discussion: Clinical signs and detailed laboratory analysis related to natural Border disease outbreak have never been reported in Turkey, although previous epidemiological studies had shown that Border disease virus infection is relatively common in some parts of Turkey in sheep flocks and persistent Border disease virus infection had been described in apperaently healthy sheep in Turkey. In the present study the disease was mainly characterized by abortions, stillbirth/weak lamb and abnormal brown/black fleece pigmentation, which occurred in an epidemic form. Besides bronchopeumonia, enteritis and conjunctivitis were detected in a limited population. Neurological signs were only observed in 2 animals. Besides persistent infection was detected in 32% of sheep enrolled. An acute phase reaction involving Hp and SAA has been identified in the present study. These results indicate that the monitoring of selected acute phase proteins may increase the diagnostic information available as a result of their analyses in naturally infected sheep and persistently infected sheep with BDV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A set of 13 alkyl derivatives of 3-phenylpiperidine-2,6-dione were synthesized. Newly obtained compounds were investigated in vitro against HIV-1 and other selected viruses. The benzyl 3f and fluorophenyl 3g derivatives showed moderate protection against CVB-2 and the compound 3g also against HSV-1. Derivatives were tested also for their antibacterial and antifungal activity. The molecular structures of 3a and 3d were determined by an X-ray analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the prevalence of pestivirus infection and its genetic and antigenic diversity in various species of ruminants in India. A 2008 study showed 37.6 percent of Indian cattle were found positive for Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) antibodies, indicating widespread infection. Another 2008 study showed a BVDV prevalence of 30.6 percent in buffaloes. BVDV-1 and BVDV-2 were isolated from native Indian goats in a 2007 study. The genetic diversity of pestiviruses identified included BVDV-1b, BVDV-1c, BVDV-2a and BVDV-2b.

The article discusses a research study on cellular apoptosis and pathologic changes in the central nervous system (CNS) of neonatal and fetal ruminants with border virus disease (BVD) infection as shown by in situ hubridization and immunohistochemistry. The study observed goats and ewes abortions and births of lambs with lesions including porencephaly, hypoplasia and nonsuppurative meningoencephalomyelitis with hypomyelinogenesis. The study showed severe and consistent microscopic changes in periventricular areas, the brainstem and the cerebellum.

The article discusses a study on the distribution and quantification of the border disease virus (BDV) in naturally infected Pyrenean chamois in the Pyrenees. Eight Pyrenean chamois with clinical signs of BDV infection were the subjects of the study and whole blood, tissue samples and rectal swaps, among others, were taken from them at necropsy. All samples were tested using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to detect the virus. The study found that the virus found in seven of the chamois is grouped into the BDV-4 genotype.

There is a great need to establish effective tools to control border disease virus (BDV) in European dairy sheep flocks. Hence, our main aim was to investigate the accuracy of analyzing anti-BDV antibodies in bulk-tank milk (BTM) in detecting the real BDV seroprevalence in dairy sheep flocks. Furthermore, the relevance of BDV to reproductive performance of dairy sheep flocks prompted us to search for the association between BDV seroprevalence and reproductive parameters. For these purposes, 34 flocks were selected based on different percentages of antibody inhibition (AIP) values in BTM as estimated by ELISA. Serum samples from 10 replacement lambs older than 6 mo, 10 ewes 1 to 2 yr old, and 10 ewes >2 yr old were collected and analyzed for the presence of anti-BDV antibodies by ELISA. A negative relationship between BDV AIP in BTM and withinflock seroprevalence was observed. Flocks with a high AIP (>80%) had an average of 2.5% seropositive animals; flocks with a moderate AIP (46-79%) had 11.4% seropositive animals; and finally, flocks with an AIP ≤45% showed a high flock seroprevalence (57.2%). Ten out of 34 flocks showed a high BDV seroprevalence in lambs, suggesting the presence of persistently infected animals in the flock. The observed AIP values in BTM from these likely BDV-infected flocks were indicative of a high seroprevalence. The analysis of reproductiveparameters data collected from these flocks showed no differences in fertility or prolificacy in relation to BDV circulation rates. Nonetheless, lamb mortality was significantly greater in flocks with low-moderate seroprevalence (10-30%), probably as a result of a firsttime contact with BDV of previously naïve ewes. These findings suggest that testing of BTM samples may be useful in inferring the BDV seroprevalence in a flock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study on the experimental infection of pigs with Border disease virus (BVD) isolated from Pyrenean chamois Rupicapra pyrenaica populations. The susceptibility of domestic swine to a BVD strain was examined. Results of serologic and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assays on serum samples obtained at different days post-inoculation (dpi) revealed the development of an antibody response against the homologus virus among the inoculated pigs.

The article presents a study which evaluated the use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) antigen detection for the diagnosis of Border disease virus (BDV) infection in fetuses, stillbirths and newborn lambs. The study notes that it is more suitable to analyze stillbirths and lambs with clinical symptoms by using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) when confirming the presence of BDV. The study concludes that antigen ELISA is less efficient in determining viral presence in stillbirths and lambs.

Approximately 3,000 Pyrenean chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica pyrenaica) died in northeastern Spain during 2005-2007. Border disease virus infection was identifi ed by reverse transcription--PCR and sequencing analysis. These results implicate this virus as the primary cause of death, similar to fi ndings in the previous epizootic in 2001. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) is an economically important and highly prevalent virus of domestic cattle. Infections with BVDV may lead to both, reproductive and immunological effects that can result in widespread calf losses and increased susceptibility to diseases, such as mastitis and respiratory disease. While BVDV is generally considered to be host specific, it and other Pestivirus species, such as Border disease virus (BDV) in sheep, have been shown to be infecting species other than those from which they were originally isolated from. Recently BVDV was placed on the OIE's list of notifiable disease and control and eradication programmes for BVDV have been developed throughout much of Europe, the United States, and the United Kingdom. While some countries, including Sweden and Ireland have successfully implemented eradication programmes, other countries such as New Zealand and Australia are still in the early stages of BVDV control. Despite effective control methods, incursions of BVDV into previously cleared herds still occur. While the cause of these incursions is often due to lapses in control methods, the ability of ruminant pestiviruses to infect species other than cattle poses the question as to whether non-bovine species could be impeding the success of BVDV eradication and control. As such, the aim of this review is to make mention of what is known about the cross-species transmission of BVDV, BDV and other pestiviruses between cattle and non-bovine ungulate species and draw conclusions as to the risk non-bovine species pose to the successful control and eradication of BVDV from cattle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prefemoral efferent lymphatics of sheep persistently infected (PI) with Border disease virus (BDV) were cannulated in order to study the effects of the virus on cells of the immune system. Efferent lymphocytes recovered from PI sheep were phenotyped using a panel of monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) specific for ovine cell-surface markers and compared to lymphocytes recovered from normal, healthy controls. PI sheep had an increased percentage of cells expressing the T cell-associated molecules CDS. CD4. CD8 and T19. also an increase in cells expressing CD1 and a population of cells expressing low levels of the T19 molecule which was not present in control sheep. The lymphocytes were examined for the presence of BDV using virus-specific MoAb. On average 8-5'% of the efferent lymphocytes from PI sheep carried virus antigen. BDV antigen was also found in the mononuclear cells and connective tissue of lymph nodes indicating widespread virus dissemination within the lymphoid system of PI sheep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]