Molecular analysis of parapoxvirus detected in eight calves in Japan

Molecular analysis of parapoxvirus envelope genes was performed. Parapoxvirus DNA was detected in eight calves from eight farms in Iwate Prefecture, Japan, between April and September 2010. Seven of the detected viruses were identified as bovine papular stomatitis virus (BPSV) by sequencing, because their nucleotide identity was more than 96.8% similar compared with BPSV strain V660. Among them, two formed a subgroup, because their amplicons were digested with Xmn I (a marker for BPSV) and Hinc II and exhibited a T61C nucleotide substitution in the sequenced region. The remaining virus was pseudocowpox virus that had not been reported previously in Japan. Our results demonstrate the presence of a new BPSV variant in Japan with genetic variability in the envelope gene.