Résumé
•BDV is a widely distributed pathogen affecting domestic and wild animals.•Heterogeneity of BDV has the potential to cause diagnostic and prophylactic difficulties.•Recognition of the molecular characteristics of BDV field strains is a fundamental element.•The palindromic nucleotide substitution method, based on secondary structure analysis, was applied to determine the taxonomy of BDV strains.•The exclusive consideration of strategic genomic sequences corresponding to the 5’-UTR IRES, identified ten genomic clusters in the species.
Applying palindromic nucleotide substitutions (PNS) method, variable loci of the internal ribosome entry site (IRES) secondary structure in the 5’ untranslated region (UTR) of Border disease virus sequences were analysed allowing their allocation into ten IRES classes within the species. Sequence characteristics of Turkish and Chinese strains were highly divergent from other genogroups, indicating geographic segregation and micro-evolutive steps within the species. Observed heterogeneity in the BDV species has to be considered for potential implications on diagnostic tests, control and preventive measures.