The
first reported incidence o
f Hobi-like viruses in Europe dates to a 2010 outbreak o
f respiratory disease in cattle in Italy. In this study, a Hobi-like virus was detected in archival samples, collected in 2007 in Italy
from a cattle herd displaying respiratory disease, during the validation o
f a nested PCR protocol
for rapid characterization o
f bovine pestiviruses. Phylogeny conducted with
full-length pestivirus genomes and three in
formative genomic sequences, placed the strain detected in the samples, Italy-129/07, into the Hobi-like virus branch. Italy-129/07, similar to other Hobi-like viruses isolated in Italy, was more closely related to viruses o
f South American origin, than Hobi-like viruses o
f Southeast Asian origin. This suggests a possible introduction o
f this emerging group o
f pestiviruses into Italy as a consequence o
f using contaminated biological products such as
fetal bovine serum originating in South America.
This report of a Hobi-like virus associated with respiratory disease along with the full-genomic characterization of the virus detected provides new data that contributes to the body of knowledge regarding the epidemiology, pathobiology and genetic diversity of this emerging group of pestiviruses. Importantly, it dates the circulation of Hobi-like viruses in Italy to 2007, at least three years before previous reports.