Pestivirus

Taxobox
name = Pestivirus
virus_group = IV
familia = "Flaviviridae"
genus = "Pestivirus"
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = "Border disease virus"
"Bovine virus diarrhea"
"Classical swine fever virus"

"Pestivirus" is a genus of viruses that belong to the family Flaviviridae. Viruses in the genus "Pestivirus" infect mammals, including members of the family Bovidae (which includes, but is not limited to, cattle, sheep, and goats) and the family Suidae (which includes various species of swine).

Pathogenesis

Pestiviruses account for important diseases in animals such as Classical swine fever (CSF) and Bovine Virus Diarrhoea / Mucosal disease (BVD/MD). According to the current O.I.E. list CSF and BVD/MD are notifiable diseases and eradication programms are administered in many countries worldwide. One hallmark of pestiviruses is their unique strategy to establish persistent infection during pregnancy. Persistent infection with pestiviruses often goes unnoticed.cite book |chapterurl=http://www.horizonpress.com/avir|author=Rumenapf and Thiel|year=2008|chapter=Molecular Biology of Pestiviruses|title=Animal Viruses: Molecular Biology|publisher=Caister Academic Press|id= [http://www.horizonpress.com/avir ISBN 978-1-904455-22-6] ]

Virus Genetics and Structure

"Pestivirus" viruses have a single strand of positive-sense RNA (i.e. RNA which can be directly translated into viral proteins) which is around 12.5 kilobases (kb) long (equal to the length of 12,500 nucleotides). Sometimes virions (individual virus particles) contain sections of an animal's genome which have been duplicated, though this is not normally the case. There is no Poly-A on the 3' end of the genome. (This means that these viruses have no post-transcriptional modifications, and have simple RNA genomes.) The genome contains RNA to encode both structural and non-structural proteins.The molecular biology of pestiviruses shares many similarities and peculiarities with the human hepaciviruses. Genome organisation and translation strategy are highly similar for the members of both genera. For BVDV frequently nonhomologous RNA recombination events lead to the appearance of genetically distinct viruses that are lethal to the host.cite book |chapterurl=http://www.horizonpress.com/avir|author=Rumenapf and Thiel|year=2008|chapter=Molecular Biology of Pestiviruses|title=Animal Viruses: Molecular Biology|publisher=Caister Academic Press|id= [http://www.horizonpress.com/avir ISBN 978-1-904455-22-6] ]

Each virion is approximately 40-60 nanometers (nm) in diameter, and consists of a nucleocapsid enveloped with the cytoplasm of infected cells.

Transmission and Prevention

"Pestivirus" is widespread in Australia, mainly in cattle. Some adult cattle are immune to the disease, while others are life-long carriers. If a foetus becomes infected within the first three to four months of gestation then it will fail to develop antibodies towards the virus. In these cases the animals often die before birth or shortly after.

Symptoms of "Pestivirus" infection include diarrhoea, respiratory problems and bleeding disorders.

"Pestivirus" vaccines exist and the correct vaccine strain should be given, depending on the herd's location and the endemic strain in that region. This vaccination must be given regularly to maintain immunity.

ee also

*List of viruses
*Virology
*Animal virology

References

External links

* [http://pesti2008.org/ The 7th ESVV Pestivirus Symposium] - Uppsala, Sweden 2008
* [http://www.horizonpress.com/gateway/animal-viruses.html Animal viruses]