Pestivirus

Pestiviruses are an important family of viruses that affect a wide range of animals, including both domestic and wild species. These viruses can cause diseases in their hosts that cause severe disease or even death. Pestiviruses can infect animals through the respiratory tract, the gastrointestinal tract, or through contact with infected bodily fluids. Clinical symptoms of pestiviral infection can include fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, nasal and ocular discharge, abdominal cramps, and even death. Pestiviruses can be transmitted from animal to animal by direct contact, as well as through the environment. Due to their widespread prevalence, pestiviruses represent a significant economic and public health burden, especially in the livestock and pet industries. Understanding pestiviral biology and developing effective control strategies are therefore key to tackling this threat.