Bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) causes important lower respiratory tract illness in calves. According to F and G proteins genetic sequences, three BRSV subgroups have been reported and characterized in several countries, showing differences in its distribution. In Brazil, the virus is widely disseminated throughout the herds and the few characterized isolates revealed the solely occurrence of the subgroup B. This study describes the detection and characterization of an untyped BRSV strain from a twenty-days-old calf from a herd without clinical respiratory disease. Nasal swabs were analyzed by RT-nested PCR for the F and G proteins genes. One sample has amplified the F protein gene. Sequencing and subsequent phylogenetic reconstruction were accomplished, revealing that the strain could not be grouped with any other BRSV subgroups reported. This result may suggest that the BRSV is in constantly evolution, even in Brazil, where the vaccination is not a common practice. More detailed studies about BRSV characterization are necessary to know the virus subgroups distribution among the Brazilian herds to recommend appropriated immunoprophylaxis. Key words: BRSV, F protein gene, RT-nested PCR, sequences, subgroup
ResumoO vírus respiratório sincicial bovino (BRSV) é responsável por causar severa doença respiratória principalmente em bezerros. De acordo com sequências genéticas das proteínas F e G deste vírus, três subgrupos de BRSV foram relatados e caracterizados em vários países, mostrando diferenças nas suas distribuições. No Brasil, o vírus encontra-se disseminado pelos rebanhos bovinos e, dos poucos