Journal of Veterinary Science

The Korean Society of Veterinary Science (대한수의학회)
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Brain invasion of bovine coronavirus: molecular analysis of bovine coronavirus infection in calves with severe pneumonia and neurological signs

  • Semaha Gul Yilmaz (Department of Virology, Veterinary Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa) ;
  • Ozge Aydin (Department of Virology, Veterinary Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa) ;
  • Hasan Emre Tali (Department of Virology, Veterinary Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa) ;
  • Gizem Karadag (Department of Virology, Veterinary Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa) ;
  • Kivilcim Sonmez (Department of Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa) ;
  • Erhan Bayraktar (CEVA Animal Health) ;
  • Aysun Yilmaz (Department of Virology, Veterinary Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa) ;
  • Nuri Turan (Department of Virology, Veterinary Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa) ;
  • Zihni Mutlu (Department of Surgery, Veterinary Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa) ;
  • Munir Iqbal (The Pirbright Institute) ;
  • Jurgen A. Richt (Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University) ;
  • Huseyin Yilmaz (Department of Virology, Veterinary Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa)
  • Received : 2023.10.19
  • Accepted : 2024.04.09
  • Published : 2024.07.31
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Abstract

Importance: Although the role of bovine coronavirus (BCoV) in calf diarrhea and respiratory disorders is well documented, its contribution to neurological diseases is unclear. Objective: This study conducted virological investigations of calves showing diarrhea and respiratory and neurological signs. Methods: An outbreak of diarrhea, respiratory, and neurological disorders occurred among the 12 calves in July 2022 in Istanbul, Türkiye. Two of these calves exhibited neurological signs and died a few days after the appearance of symptoms. One of these calves was necropsied and analyzed using molecular and histopathological tests. Results: BCoV RNA was detected in the brain, lung, spleen, liver, and intestine of the calf that had neurological signs by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Immunostaining was also observed in the intestine and brain. A 622 bp S1 gene product was noted on gel electrophoresis only in the brain. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the BCoV detected in this study had a high proximity to the BCoV strain GIb with 99.19% nucleotide sequence homology to the strains detected in Poland, Israel, Türkiye, and France. No distinct genetic lineages were observed when the brain isolate was compared with the respiratory and enteric strains reported to GenBank. In addition, the highest identity (98,72%) was obtained with the HECV 4408 and L07748 strains of human coronaviruses. Conclusions and Relevance: The strain detected in a calf brain belongs to the GIb-European lineage and shares high sequence homology with BCoV strains detected in Europe and Israel. In addition, the similarity between the human coronaviruses (4408 and L07748) raises questions about the zoonotic potential of the strains detected in this study.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

We would like to thank Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa for funding this study.

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