Abstract
Bovine coronavirus (BCoV) is one of the main aetiological agents of gastroenteritis in calves, causing significant economic damage to livestock. This study aims to characterise BCoV genetically on the basis of the N gene. A total of 114 faecal samples from beef and dairy calves with or without clinical symptoms of diarrhoea from five Brazilian states (São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Santa Catarina, Mato Grosso and Bahia) were evaluated between 2008 and 2015 by technique of Semi‐nested RT‐PCR for gene N and genealogical analysis. Of the 114 samples analysed, 14.91% (17/114) were positive. BCoV was detected in 22.72% (10/44) of the animals with diarrhoea and in 10% (7/70) of asymptomatic animals. BCoV was identified in calves from rural properties located in all of the regions sampled. Genealogical analysis showed that the Brazilian sequences of BCoV for the gene which codes for the N protein can be broken down into two distinct clusters, and the samples from this study were closely linked to Asian strains. These results contribute to the molecular characterization of BCoV in Brazil and are the first report of the circulation of BCoV in the states of Santa Catarina and Bahia.
Highlights
Bovine coronavirus (BCoV) belongs to the order Nidovirales, family Coronaviridae, sub-family Coronavirinae within the genus Betacoronavirus
Of a total of 114 faecal samples analysed by means of semi-nested RT-PCR targeting gene N, 17 (14.91%) were positive for BCoV
In terms of the geographical distribution, BCoV was found in the states of S~ao Paulo, Minas Gerais, Santa Catarina, Mato Grosso and Bahia
Summary
BCoV belongs to the order Nidovirales, family Coronaviridae, sub-family Coronavirinae within the genus Betacoronavirus. BCoV consists of a non-segmented, single-stranded, positive-sense RNA (ssRNA) (Wentworth & Holmes 2007). It is an enveloped virus with a diameter of approximately 100–120 nm with five structural proteins identified as: (S) spike glycoprotein; (M) integral membrane protein; (HE) hemagglutininesterase glycoprotein; (E) small membrane protein and (N) nucleocapsid phosphoprotein (Wentworth & Holmes 2007; Asadi et al 2015). The N protein carries out various functions linked to viral pathogenesis, transcription and replication It is often used for molecular diagnosis of BCoV as it is a highly conserved protein that is expressed in large quantities during viral replication (Saif 2010)
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