RECENT KNOWLEDGE ON THE BOVINE VIRUS DIARRHEA VIRUS REVIEW ARTICLE

The Pestivirus genus in one of the most intensively studied groups of animal viruses. Detailed studies on pestiviruses make necessary also t he re-classification of the genus. The recent study has summarized the recent knowledge on the bovine diarrhoea virus (BVDV). Actual taxonom ic questions have also been dealt with, namely the two genotypes of BV DV, as well as the new, non host-specific classification of pestivirus es. The morphological and physical characterization of the virus has n ot been dealt with. Genome structure (Fig.1) genome organization, prot eins responsible for the cytopathogenic effect have been discussed acc ording to our present knowledge. The differences between the two bioty pes of BVDV - cytopathogenic (cp, Fig.2) and non-cytopathogenic (ncp) viruses - have also been discussed, classifying according to recombina tive events suffered by the virus genome. For the time being it seems on the basis of the results of recent research that the recombinative events of the aminoterminal of non-structural p80 enzyme protein of BV DV (Fig.3) are principally responsible for the transformation of ncp B VDV - mainly present in the nature - to cp BVDV and thus to the develo pment of mucosal disease, MD.