Surveillance of Bungowannah Pestivirus in the Upper Midwestern USA

Summary Pestiviruses, a genetically and antigenically highly diverse group, include one of the most historically significant swine pathogens, that is, classical swine fever virus. In A ustralia, investigations into swine outbreaks characterized by neonatal mortality, stillbirths and mummified foetuses resulted in the discovery of a new pestivirus, B ungowannah virus. This finding raised the possibility that B ungowannah virus, or a variant thereof, was circulating in swine herds elsewhere in the W orld. If so, it raised the possibility of a pestivirus emerging as a new swine disease with unknown consequences for animal health and food safety. Thus, we developed three specific qRT ‐ PCR assays to evaluate tissue samples from undiagnosed cases of abortion or respiratory disease for evidence of B ungowannah virus. Examination of 64 samples collected between the F all of 2007 and S pring of 2010 tested negative for all three genes examined. We conclude that B ungowannah‐like pestivirus is unlikely to be present in swine in the upper M idwestern USA .