Bovine Astrovirus Surveillance in Uruguay Reveals High Detection Rate of a Novel Mamastrovirus Species.

Matías Castells,Viviana Parreño,Federico Giannitti,Matías Victoria,Rubén Darío Caffarena,Estefany Bertoni,María Laura Casaux,Rodney Colina,Franklin Riet-Correa,Carlos Schild

doi:10.3390/v12010032

Matías Castells, Viviana Parreño + Show 8 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/v12010032

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Abstract

Viral infections affecting cattle lead to economic losses to the livestock industry worldwide, but little is known about the circulation, pathogenicity and genetic diversity of enteric bovine astrovirus (BoAstV) in America. The aim of this work was to describe the prevalence and genetic diversity of enteric BoAstV in dairy cattle in Uruguay. A total of 457 fecal and 43 intestinal contents from dairy calves were collected between July 2015 and May 2017 and tested by RT-PCR, followed by sequencing and phylogenetic analyses of the polymerase and capsid regions. Twenty-six percent (128/500) of the samples were positive. Three different species within the Mamastrovirus genus were identified, including Mamastrovirus 28, Mamastrovirus 33 (3 samples each) and an unclassified Mamastrovirus species (19 samples). The unclassified species was characterized as a novel Mamastrovirus species. BoAstV circulates in Uruguayan dairy cattle with a high genetic diversity. The eventual clinicopathological significance of enteric BoAstV infection in cattle needs further investigation.

Highlights

Astroviruses (AstVs) are small, non-enveloped viruses, of 28 to 30 nm in diameter, with distinctive five- or six-pointed, star-like virions
bovine astrovirus (BoAstV) was detected in 26% (128/500) of the samples screened by Polymerase chain reactions (PCR) targeting the polymerase genomic region
Phylogenetic analysis with the partial polymerase genomic region showed that the Uruguayan strains clustered in three groups: 3/25 (12%) with MAstV-28, and 3/25 (12%) with

Summary

Introduction

Astroviruses (AstVs) are small, non-enveloped viruses, of 28 to 30 nm in diameter, with distinctive five- or six-pointed, star-like virions. AstVs are members of the Astroviridae family, which is further divided in two genera: Mamastrovirus (MAstV) and Avastrovirus, infecting mammals and birds, respectively. Bovine astroviruses (BoAstVs) are members of the MAstV genus, detected for the first time in 1978, in calves with enteritis [1]. In coinfections with other viruses, such as rotavirus and torovirus, the infectious capacity of BoAstV seems to be increased [2], whether this is clinically relevant, or the virus plays a synergistic role in the development of diarrhea in cattle, needs further clarification

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