Correction: Prevalence Study and Genetic Typing of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) in Four Bovine Species in China

1 To determine the nationwide status of persistent BVDV infection in different members 2 from Bos taurus and Bubalus bubalus in China and compare different test methods, a 3 total of 1379 serum samples from clinical healthy dairy cattle (Chinese Holstein), beef 4 cattle, yaks (Bos grunniens), and water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) were collected in 5 eight provinces of China from 2010 to 2013. The samples were analyzed using 6 commercial antibody (Ab) and antigen (Ag) detection kits, and RT-PCR based on the 7 5'-UTR and Npro gene sequencing. Results showed that the overall positive rates for 8 BVDV Ab, Ag and RT-PCR detection were 58. 9 22.64% (146/645), respectively, while the individual positive rates varied among 10 regions, animal types, and farms. The average Ab-positive rates for dairy cattle, beef 11 cattle, yaks, and water buffalo were 89.16 PCR products were sequenced and 124 5'-UTR sequences were obtained. Phylogenetic 17 analysis of the 5'-UTR sequences indicated that all of the 124 BVDV-positive samples 18 were BVDV-1 and subtyped into either BVDV-1b (33.06%), BVDV-1m (49.19%), or 19 a new cluster, designated as BVDV-1u (17.74%). Phylogenetic analysis based on Npro 20 sequences confirmed this novel subtype. In conclusion, this study revealed the 21 prevalence of BVDV-1 in bovines of China and the dominant subtypes. The high 22 proportion of bovines with detectable viral nucleic acids in the sera, even in the 23 presence of high Ab levels, revealed a serious threat to bovine health.