Cultural properties and genetic characteristics of the Gil-Gil strain of the bluetongue virus
https://doi.org/10.30766/2072-9081.2025.26.4.896-905
Abstract
The spread of bluetongue in the countries of north-western part of Europe in 2023-2024, caused by a highly virulent virus of serotype 3, has updated the study of the biological properties of the Gil-Gil strain of the bluetongue virus, deposited more than 50 years ago in the pathogen collection of the Federal Research Center for Virology and Microbiology. The aim of the research was to find the most permissive cell systems for the reproduction of the Gil-Gil strain of bluetongue virus of serotype 3, to characterize the strain genetically and to serotype it. The virus was found to cause cytopathic effect (CPE) in cells of three sublines of VNK-21/13 (newborn Syrian hamster kidney) transplanted cultures, in PSGC-60 (Siberian ibex kidney) and PS (saiga kidney) transplanted cell lines. The monolayer suspension culture of VNK-21/13 cells and the PSGC-60 transplanted cell line were identified as promising cell systems for the biotechnology of vaccine preparations. In these substrates, the Gil-Gil strain of bluetongue virus accumulated up to 7.25-7.50 lg TCD50/cm3. The neutralization test with reference serum confirmed that the Gil-Gil strain belonged to bluetongue virus of serotype 3, and according to the results of molecular genetic studies, the strain was included in the group of bluetongue viruses of serotype 3 of the western topotype. The obtained results are considered to be fundamental for the development of a vaccine preparation from the characterized strain of the bluetongue virus in a short period of time in case of introduction of this disease into the territory of the Russian Federation.
Supporting agencies: The research was carried out under the support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation within the state assignment of the Federal Research Center for Virology and Microbiology (topic No. FGNM-2024-0003).
About the Authors
O. G. Lapteva
Federal Research Center for Virology and Microbiology
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Oksana G. Lapteva, PhD in Veterinary Science, senior researcher, the Laboratory of Drugs for Animals,
Akademik Bakulov str., building 1, Volginsky settlement, Vladimir region, 601125
A. V. Lunitsin
Federal Research Center for Virology and Microbiology
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Andrey V. Lunitsin, PhD in Veterinary Science, Deputy Director for Production and Quality,
Akademik Bakulov str., building 1, Volginsky settlement, Vladimir region, 601125
A. A. Chadaeva
Federal Research Center for Virology and Microbiology
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Anna A. Chadaeva, PhD in Biological Science, junior researcher, the Laboratory of Molecular Virology,
Akademik Bakulov str., building 1, Volginsky settlement, Vladimir region, 601125
O. S. Povolyaeva
Federal Research Center for Virology and Microbiology
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Olga S. Povolyaeva, PhD in Biological Science, junior researcher, the Laboratory of Molecular Virology,
Akademik Bakulov str., building 1, Volginsky settlement, Vladimir region, 601125
A. Y. Koltsov
Federal Research Center for Virology and Microbiology
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Andrey Yu. Koltsov, PhD in Biological Science, leading researcher, the Laboratory of Virus Genomics,
Akademik Bakulov str., building 1, Volginsky settlement, Vladimir region, 601125
S. G. Yurkov
Federal Research Center for Virology and Microbiology
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Sergey G. Yurkov, DSc in Biological Science, professor, chief researcher, the Laboratory of Molecular Virology,
Akademik Bakulov str., building 1, Volginsky settlement, Vladimir region, 601125
References
1. Maclachlan N. J. Bluetongue: history, global epidemiology, and pathogenesis. Preventive Veterinary Medicine. 2011;102(2):107–111. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2011.04.005
2. Ries C., Vögtlin A., Hüssy D., Jandt T., Gobet H., Hilbe M. et al. Putative Novel Atypical BTV Serotype ‘36’ Identified in Small Ruminants in Switzerland. Viruses.2021;13(5):721. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/v13050721
3. MacLachlan N. J. The pathogenesis and immunology of bluetongue virus infection of ruminants. Comparative Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. 1994;17(3-4):197–206. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0147-9571(94)90043-4
4. Lorusso A., Sghaier S., Di Domenico M., Barbria M. E., Zaccaria G., Megdich A. et al. Analysis of bluetongue serotype 3 spread in Tunisia and discovery of a novel strain related to the bluetongue virus isolated from a commercial sheep pox vaccine. Infection, Genetics and Evolution. 2018;59:63–71. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meegid.2018.01.025
5. Cappai S., Rolesu S., Loi F., Liciardi M., Leone A., Marcacci M. et al. Western Bluetongue virus serotype 3 in Sardinia, diagnosis and characterization. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases. 2019;66:1426–1431. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/tbed.13156
6. Aguilar‐Vega C., Fernández‐Carrión E., Sánchez‐Vizcaíno J. M. The possible route of introduction of bluetongue virus serotype 3 into Sicily by windborne transportation of infected Culicoides spp. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases. 2019;66:1665–1673. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/tbed.13201
7. Golender N., Klement E., Kovtunenko A., Even-Tov B., Zamir L., Tiomkin E. et al. Comparative Molecular and Epidemiological Analyses of Israeli Bluetongue Viruses Serotype 1 and 9 Causing Outbreaks in 2018-2020. Microorganisms. 2023;11(2):366. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11020366
8. Holwerda M., Santman-Berends I., Harders F., Engelsma M., Vloet R., Dijkstra E. et al. Emergence of Bluetongue Virus Serotype 3, the Netherlands, September 2023. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 2024;30(8):1552–1561. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3201/eid3008.231331
9. Boender G.-J., Hagenaars T. J., Holwerda M., Spierenburg M. A. H., van Rijn P. A., van der Spek A. N., Elbers A. R. W. Spatial transmission characteristics of the bluetongue virus serotype 3 epidemic in the Netherlands, 2023. Viruses. 2024;16(4):625. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/v16040625
10. King S., Nicholls M., Scales J., Gubbins S., Pearce-Kelly P., Saverimuttu S. et al. The efficacy of vectorproof accommodation for the protection of livestock against Culicoides biting midges. Parasites & Vectors. 2025;18:108. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-025-06736-9
11. Van den Brink K. M. J. A., Santman-Berends I. M. G. A., Harkema L., Scherpenzeel C. G. M., Dijkstra E., Bisschop P. I. H. et al. Bluetongue virus serotype 3 in ruminants in the Netherlands: Clinical signs, seroprevalence and pathological findings. VetRecord. 2024;195(4):e4533. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/vetr.4533
12. Voigt A., Kampen H., Heuser E., Zeiske S., Hoffmann B., Höper D. et al. Bluetongue Virus Serotype 3 and Schmallenberg Virus in Culicoides Biting Midges, Western Germany, 2023. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 2024;30(7):1438–1441. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3201/eid3007.240275
13. Voigt A., Kampen H., Heuser E., Zeiske S., Hoffmann B., Höper D. et al. Emergence of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in western Germany, October 2023, and ad-hoc monitoring in Culicoides biting mides. BioRxiv. 2024. 8 p. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.02.26.582175
14. Newbrook K., Obishakin E., Jones L. A., Waters R., Ashby M., Batten C., Sanders C. Clinical disease in British sheep infected with an emerging strain of bluetongue virus serotype 3. VetRecord. 2025;196(4):e4910. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/vetr.4910
15. Barros S. C., Henriques A. M., Ramos F., Luís T., Fagulha T., Magalhães A. et al. Emergence of Bluetongue Virus Serotype 3 in Portugal (2024). Viruses. 2024;16(2):1845. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/v16121845
16. Golender N., Bumbarov V., Eldar A., Lorusso A., Kenigswald G., Varsano J. S., Savini G. Bluetongue Serotype 3 in Israel 2013–2018: Clinical Manifestations of the Disease and Molecular Characterization of Israeli Strains. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. 2020;7:00112. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2020.00112
17. WOAH Terrestrial Manual 2021. Chapter 3.1.3. – Bluetongue (infection with bluetongue virus). 2021. pp. 1-20. URL: https://www.woah.org/fileadmin/Home/fr/Health_standards/tahm/3.01.03_BLUETONGUE.pdf
18. Balysheva V. I., Nesterov E. A., Lunitsin A. V., Zhivoderov S. P., Gorshkova T. F., Lapteva O. G. et al. Efficacy of a trivalent inactivated vaccine against luetongue cantle and small ruminants. Doklady Rossiyskoy akademii sel'skokhozyaystvennykh nauk = Reports of the Russian Academy of agricultural sciences. 2013;(4):49–51. (In Russ.). URL: https://www.elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=19124962
19. Lapteva O. G., Filatova M. A., Nesterov E. A. Reproduction de virus de Bluetooth et de rage dans diverses sous-lignées de cellules de VNK-21/13. Problèmes actuels de pathologie infectieuse de la Médecine vétérinaire: Jeunes scientifiques. Pokrov: VNII veterinarnoy virusologii i mikrobiologii, 2009. pp. 200–206.
20. Balysheva V. I., Slivko V. V., Zhesterev V. I. Culture du virus de Bluetooth dans des cultures de cellules animales. Doklady Rossiyskoy akademii sel'skokhozyaystvennykh nauk = Reports of the Russian Academy of agricultural sciences. 2002;(6):46–48. (In Russ.).
21. Maan S., Maan N. S., Samuel A. R., Rao S., Attoui H., Mertens P. P. C. Analysis and phylogenetic comparisons of full-length VP2 genes of the 24 bluetongue virus serotypes. Journal of General Virology. 2007;88(2):621– 630. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1099/vir.0.82456-0
Review
For citations:
Lapteva O.G., Lunitsin A.V., Chadaeva A.A., Povolyaeva O.S., Koltsov A.Y., Yurkov S.G. Cultural properties and genetic characteristics of the Gil-Gil strain of the bluetongue virus. Agricultural Science Euro-North-East. 2025;26(4):896-905. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.30766/2072-9081.2025.26.4.896-905
Views:
17
Email this article 