− | 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). | + | 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). |