RESUMO
Recently, a coronavirus strain (179/07-11) was isolated from water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) and the virus which displayed a strict genetic and biological relatedness with bovine coronavirus (BCoV) was referred to as bubaline coronavirus (BuCoV). Here, we report the characterisation of four BuCoVs strains identified in the faeces or intestinal contents of water buffalo calves with acute gastroenteritis. Single BuCoV infections were detected in all but one cases from which two clostridia species were also isolated. Sequence and phylogenetic analyses of the 5' end of the spike-protein gene showed that three BuCoVs were closely related to the prototype strain 179/07-11, whereas the fourth isolate (339/08-C) displayed a higher genetic identity to recent BCoV reference strains. Three strains adapted to the in vitro grow on human rectal tumour cells were also evaluated for their ability to replicate in a bovine cell line (Madin Darby bovine kidney) and to cause haemagglutination of chicken erythrocytes and all displayed biological properties similar to those already described for the prototype BuCoV. The present report shows that albeit genetically heterogeneous, the different BuCoV strains possess a common biological pattern which is different from most BCoV and BCoV-like isolates.
Assuntos
Búfalos/virologia , Infecções por Coronavirus/veterinária , Coronavirus/genética , Surtos de Doenças/veterinária , Gastroenterite/veterinária , Variação Genética/genética , Animais , Sequência de Bases , Infecções por Coronavirus/epidemiologia , Infecções por Coronavirus/genética , Infecções por Coronavirus/virologia , Fezes/virologia , Gastroenterite/epidemiologia , Gastroenterite/genética , Gastroenterite/virologia , Testes de Hemaglutinação/veterinária , Itália/epidemiologia , Glicoproteínas de Membrana/química , Glicoproteínas de Membrana/genética , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Filogenia , RNA Viral/química , RNA Viral/genética , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase Via Transcriptase Reversa/veterinária , Análise de Sequência de DNA , Glicoproteína da Espícula de Coronavírus , Proteínas do Envelope Viral/química , Proteínas do Envelope Viral/genéticaRESUMO
Prion protein gene (PRNP) polymorphisms are involved in modulating the appearance of atypical/Nor98 scrapie in sheep, with the alleles AHQ and AF141RQ strongly associated with occurrence of the disease. The presence of histidine at codon 154 has also been detected in Nor98-affected goats, but statistical analysis of the association between Nor98 and goat PRNP polymorphisms has not been reported previously. Here, a case-control study was carried out on eight Nor98-positive goats and 246 negative herdmates belonging to eight Italian Nor98 scrapie outbreaks. The results revealed that histidine at codon 154 is also strongly associated with the disease in goats.