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ARS Home » Plains Area » Clay Center, Nebraska » U.S. Meat Animal Research Center » Animal Health Genomics » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #409030
Research Project: Strategies to Control Respiratory Diseases of Cattle

Location: Animal Health Genomics

Title: Two bovine hepacivirus genome sequences from U.S. cattle

Author
item Workman, Aspen
item Harhay, Gregory
item GROVES, JOHN - Livestock Veterinary Services
item VANDER LEY, BRIAN - University Of Nebraska

Submitted to: Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/10/2023
Publication Date: 2/27/2024
Citation: Workman, A.M., Harhay, G.P., Groves, J.T., Vander Ley, B.L. 2024. Two bovine hepacivirus genome sequences from U.S. cattle. Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation. 36(2):274-277. https://doi.org/10.1177/10406387231225656.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/10406387231225656

Interpretive Summary: Bovine hepacivirus (BovHepV) is a virus that is closely related to the hepatitis C virus (HCV) in humans and can cause both acute and chronic liver infections in cattle. BovHepV was first identified in 2015 and has subsequently been found worldwide. Prior to this report, there were no BovHepV genome sequences from the U.S. Here, we report two nearly complete BovHepV genomes that were sequenced from serum samples collected from beef cattle in Missouri. Analysis of the new genomes along with those publicly available showed that one of the isolates belonged to genotype 1, subtype E, and the other isolate represented a new subtype within genotype 2. Thus, we demonstrated the co-circulation of highly diverse BovHepV strains at a single commercial stocker operation in Missouri. These findings suggest that BovHepV is more genetically diverse than previously thought. This could have implications for the development of diagnostic tests for BovHepV.

Technical Abstract: Bovine hepacivirus (BoHV) is closely related to the hepatitis C virus (HCV) in humans and can cause both acute and chronic liver infections in cattle. BoHV was first identified in Ghana and Germany in 2015 and since then it has been detected and characterized in other countries around the world, but no strains have been sequenced from U.S. cattle. To date, BoHV has been classified into 2 genotypes (1 and 2), with genotype 1 being further divided into 11 subtypes (A–K). However, the true genetic diversity of BoHV is likely underestimated given limited surveillance and a lack of published genome sequences. Here, we sequenced 2 nearly complete BoHV genomes from serum samples collected in 2019 from beef cattle in Missouri. Sequence comparisons and phylogenetic analysis showed that isolate MARC/2019/60 had high sequence homology with genotype 1, subtype E isolates from China. In contrast, isolate MARC/2019/50 represented a novel BoHV subtype within genotype 2. Thus, we report the first genomic characterization of BoHV isolates from U.S. cattle, and the second complete BoHV2 genome worldwide. This work increases our knowledge of the global genetic diversity of BoHV and demonstrates the co-circulation of divergent BoHV strains in U.S. cattle.