Pestivirus emergentes HoBi: Impacto en salud animal y su importancia como contaminante de insumos biotecnológicos

HoBi-like viruses are a group of emerging Pestiviruses which affects cattle and water buffaloes and are common contaminants of biological products. After the first detection from Brazilian samples in Germany in 2004, several HoBi-like isolates have been reported in Brazil, Italy and some countries of Asia. Thus, this pathogen has caused concern to cattle and buffalo farmers and veterinarians as it has been involved in events of severe respiratory symptoms, abortions and persistently infected animals and mucosal like-disease. Due to the lack of an active surveillance system for HoBi-like viruses and since infections with them can be mistaken for bovine viral diarrhea, the true impact on cattle populations is unknown. In Argentina, the existence of HoBi-like viruses has not been studied, nor from an epidemiological point of view or in terms of its potential as an adventitious agent in biological products and cell lines. The aim of this article is to provide an analysis of the worldwide epidemiological situation of HoBi-like viruses, in order to generate an approach and to awaken interest in veterinarians, virologists and health authorities for this emerging pathogen. It is essential to achieve greater investment and participation in interdisciplinary research to clarify basic aspects of the epidemiology of this new pathogen and to establish its possible impact on the productive systems of the South American countries.