# Bovine Rhinitis B Virus Variant as the Putative Cause of Bronchitis in Goat Kids

## TL;DR

A new virus related to bovine rhinitis B virus is found to potentially cause respiratory disease in young goats.

## Contribution

The first report of a picornavirus causing respiratory disease in goats and evidence of cross-species transmission.

## Key findings

- A previously unreported picornavirus was identified in goat respiratory lesions.
- The virus is classified as an aphthovirus related to bovine rhinitis B virus.
- The virus's nucleic acid was localized to bronchitis lesions in affected goats.

## Abstract

A diagnostic investigation into an outbreak of fatal respiratory disease among young goats in Iowa, USA revealed bronchitis lesions of unknown etiology and secondary bacterial bronchopneumonia. Hypothesis-free metagenomics identified a previously unreported picornavirus (USA/IA26017/2023), and further phylogenetic analysis classified USA/IA26017/2023 as an aphthovirus related to bovine rhinitis B virus. Viral nucleic acid was localized to lesions of bronchitis using in situ hybridization. This marks the first report of a picornavirus putatively causing respiratory disease in goats and highlights the potential for cross-species transmission of aphthoviruses.