Ovine coronavirus infection

Previous Authors: M B PENSAERT AND K VAN REETH

Current Authors:
L J SAIF - Professor, MS, PhD, Food Animal Health Research Program, CFAES and CVM, OARDC, Ohio State University, 1680 Madison Ave, Wooster, Ohio, 44691, USA 
K JUNG - Research Scientist and Leading Expert, Food Animal Health Research Program, OARDC, Ohio State University, 1680 Madison Ave, Wooster, Ohio, 44691, USA
Q  WANG - Associate Professor, PhD, Ohio State University, 1680 Madison Ave, Wooster, Ohio, 44691, USA 

GENERAL INTRODUCTION: CORONAVIRIDAE

Virus particles that morphologically resemble coronaviruses have been detected in the faeces of sheep in Australia,^{4, 8} New Zealand,¹ Chile ⁵ Scotland⁷ and Hungary.³ Antibodies reactive with bovine coronavirus have been detected in sheep in Germany,² Japan⁶ and Sweden.⁹ However, the existence of a specific ovine coronavirus has never been proven and the antibodies and coronavirus-like particles in sheep most probably result from bovine coronavirus (BCV) infections transmitted directly or indirectly from cattle. This is supported by the transmission of BCV from cattle to sheep under experimental conditions.⁹ In addition, a relationship between BCV seropositive sheep and cattle contact has been demonstrated in serological studies in Sweden.⁹ It remains to be determined whether BCV can be transmitted between sheep and if the infection is clinically important.

References

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