− | The viral aetiology of BVD was first established over 60 years ago, but it was not until the 1960s that the agent was assigned to the newly penned "Pestivirus" genus. At this stage Pestiviruses were considered to be non-arthropod-borne togaviruses; later, sequencing of genomic RNA showed that they are taxonomically better suited to the Flaviviridae family<sup>1, 2</sup>. Many members of the Flaviviridae family are indeed arthropod-borne, and other genera within the Flaviviridae family include the Hepaciviruses, such as hepatitis C virus, and the Flaviviruses, such as West Nile Virus. | + | The viral aetiology of BVD was first established over 60 years ago, but it was not until the 1960s that the agent was assigned to the newly penned "Pestivirus" genus. At this stage Pestiviruses were considered to be non-arthropod-borne togaviruses; later, sequencing of genomic RNA showed that they are taxonomically better suited to the Flaviviridae family<sup>1, 2</sup>. Many members of the Flaviviridae family are indeed arthropod-borne, such as the Flaviviruses West Nile Virus and yellow fever virus. However, Pestiviruses are not transmitted by insects, and the genus includes pathogens of cattle (BVDV), sheep (Border Disease virus) and pigs ([Classical Swine Fever]] Virus). |
− | Pestiviruses, however, are not arthropod-borne, and include pathogens of cattle (BVDV), sheep and pigs. The porcine Pestivirus, classical swine fever virus (CSFV), was first documented in 1833 in Ohio (quoted by Hanson, 1957). Acute disease (classical swine fever) typically includes a raised body temperature, inco-ordination of movement and hyperaemia of the skin followed by petechial or extensive haemorrhage (Dahle and Leiss, 1992). | |
− | Border disease, caused by Border disease virus (BDV) is the ovine pestivirus and was described by Hughes et al. in 1959. Congenital infection results in the birth of “hairy shaker” lambs, which suffer tonic-clonic tremors and have hairy rather than woolly coats (Sawyer, 1992). Severity of clinical signs can vary within a flock and among litter-mates.
| |