Abstract
This study aimed to identify the presence of bovine coronavirus (BCoV) in diarrheic cattle and buffalo calves in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. Ninety-six fecal samples were collected from calves aged 1 to 45 days, exhibiting watery diarrhea, dehydration, weakness, and recumbency. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) targeting an N-gene segment of BCoV was used to evaluate the presence of the virus. Selected PCR-positive samples were sequenced and phylogenetically analyzed. The present study indicated 26 cattle and buffalo calves were positive for BCoV PCR in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. The sequencing of PCR-positive samples confirmed the presence of BCoV and the obtained sequences were deposited in the public database Most of the positive samples (55.60%) belonged to calves < 10 days of age. The male (28.13%) calves had slightly higher. BCoV percentage positivity compared to females (25.00%). The cow (36.40%) calves had higher BCoV percentage positivity compared to buffalo calves (24.32%). Statistical comparison of BCoV positivity between various age groups, sex, and species indicated significant differences (p < 0.05) in calves less than and above 30 days of age but no significant differences between sexes or species. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42770-026-01931-x.