Pestivirus

Viruses in Pestivirus are enveloped, with spherical geometries. Their diameter is around 50 nm. Genomes are linear and not segmented, around 12kb in length.[1]

Entry into the host cell is achieved by attachment of the viral envelope protein E to host receptors, which mediates clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Replication follows the positive stranded RNA virus replication model. Positive-stranded RNA virus transcription is the method of transcription. Translation takes place by viral initiation. The virus exits the host cell by budding. Mammals serve as the natural hosts. Transmission routes are parental.[1]

Pestivirus viruses have a single strand of positive-sense RNA (i.e. RNA which can be directly translated into viral proteins) that 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 that have been duplicated, though this is not normally the case. No Poly-A is found 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 nonstructural 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.[3]

Pestivirus A is widespread in Australia, mainly in cattle. Some adult cattle are immune to the disease, while others are lifelong 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. It is spread very easily among feedlot cattle as nasal secretions and close contact spread the disease, and animals with infected mucous membranes give off millions of particles of BVDV a day.

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

Pestivirus A 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.

• Pestivirus A or Bovine viral diarrhea virus 1 (BVDV-1), causes Bovine viral diarrhea and Mucosal disease
• Pestivirus B or Bovine viral diarrhea virus 2 or (BVDV-2), causes Bovine viral diarrhea and Mucosal disease
• Pestivirus C or Classical swine fever virus (CSFV), causes Classical swine fever
• Pestivirus D or Border disease virus (BDV), causes Border disease
• Pestivirus E or pronghorn pestivirus
• Pestivirus F or Bungowannah virus
• Pestivirus G or giraffe pestivirus
• Pestivirus H or Hobi-like pestivirus
• Pestivirus I or Aydin-like pestivirus
• Pestivirus J or rat pestivirus
• Pestivirus K or atypical porcine pestivirus
• (Dongyang pangolin virus, DYPV)[4]

• List of viruses
• Virology
• Animal virology

• The 7th ESVV Pestivirus Symposium—Uppsala, Sweden 2008
• Animal viruses
• Virus Pathogen Database and Analysis Resource (ViPR): Flaviviridae
• Viralzone: Pestivirus
• ICTV