First study on genetic variability of bovine viral diarrhea virus isolated from Sapera dairy goats with reproductive disorders in Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Abstract

Background and aim: Bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) virus (BVDV) is an important viral pathogen of cattle that can infect diverse artiodactyl species. The clinical manifestations caused by BVDV in heterologous hosts, as they do in cattle, vary, although respiratory and reproductive failures are commonly reported. BVDV infections commonly result in reproductive failure in goats, with abortion being the primary clinical sign. In central Java, Indonesia, BVDV infection has been reported in two clinically healthy local goat species, and the testing indicated infection by BVDV Type 1. However, the genetic diversity of viruses has not been described in healthy or ill goats. The objectives of the present study were as follows: (1) To investigate the genetic variation of BVDV isolated from Sapera dairy goats with naturally occurring reproductive disorders in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, using the 5' untranslated region (5' UTR) and (2) to study the possible correlation between reproductive disorders and the presence of BVDV in the flock.

Materials and methods: Blood samples were collected in October 2021 from 39 goats that had been individually reported to have reproductive disorders. The serum samples were subjected to molecular detection and genetic characterization of BVDV based on the 5' UTR of the viral genome, followed by sequencing and phylogenetic analyses. Viral isolation was performed on BVDV-positive samples to analyze the viral biotypes.

Results: BVDV infection was detected in five out of 39 female goats. The clinical status of the BVDV-infected goats was abortion (n=2), metritis (n=1), and repeated breeding (n=2). All antigen-positive samples were confirmed as BVDV type 1a (BVDV-1a) and noncytopathic (NCP)-BVDV biotype.

Conclusion: The BVDV-1a and NCP biotypes are the main subtypes and biotypes present in Sapera dairy goats exhibiting reproductive failure. This result is consistent with previous results in dairy cattle in Yogyakarta. The reported results can facilitate the design of methods for the prevention and control of BVD circulating in Indonesia.

Keywords: 5’untranslated region; Sapera dairy goats; bovine viral diarrhea virus; reproductive disorder.

Figure-1

Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis of samples for the 5’ untranslated region. Lane 1: 100 bp DNA marker, Lane 2: Negative control, Lane 3: Positive control and Lanes 4-8: Bovine viral diarrhea virus positive specimen.

Figure-2

Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction test of samples for bovine viral diarrhea virus-1. Lane 1: Negative control, Lane 2: 50 bp DNA marker, and Lanes 3-7: Bovine viral diarrhea virus-1 positive specimen.

Figure-3

Phylogenetic tree based on a 288nt region of the 5’ untranslated region with the maximum likelihood method, general time reversible model, and 1000× bootstrap rate using MEGA X.

Figure-4

Image of Madin–Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cells infected with noncytopathic bovine viral diarrhea virus (non-cytopathic [NCP] Bovine viral diarrhea virus [BVDV]). MDBK cells infected with NCP BVDV showed a brownish color in the nuclei and/or cytoplasm which was a deposit of NCP BVDV antigen (immunocytochemistry assay, 500×).

Figure-5

Image of Madin–Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cells that were not infected with bovine viral diarrhea virus as examined by immunocytochemistry assay (ICC) in vitro (negative control). MDBK cells that appeared normal reached 80% monolayer confluence and exhibited no vacuolization and no color precipitation in the cytoplasm (ICC, 500×).