Molecular epidemiological investigation of Newcastle disease virus from domestic ducks in Korea.
To expand the epidemiological understanding of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) found in domestic ducks in Korea, 14 NDV isolates from apparently healthy domestic ducks were biologically and genetically characterized. Thirteen and 1 isolates of NDV were categorized into lentogenic and velogenic viruses, respectively, based on in vivo pathogenicity tests. Twelve lentogenic viruses showed HA activity to horse RBCs, while 1 lentogenic virus and the velogenic virus were negative. Lentogenic viruses (n=13) had sequence motifs of (112)ERQERL(117) (n=1) or (112)GRQGRL(117) (n=12) at the F0 cleavage site, while the velogenic virus (n=1) had a sequence motif of (112)RRQKRF(117) at the same site. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that at least three distinct genotypes may exist in domestic ducks in Korea; one class I genotype (genotype 2), and two class II (genotypes I and VII) genotypes. The class I virus was most closely related to strains of genotype 2 which were isolated in birds from the USA, Germany and Denmark. Twelve lentogenic class II viruses were grouped together in genotype I, and were then divided into at least three clusters, namely Aomori-like, Ulster2C-like, and V4-like. The velogenic class II virus was assigned to genotype VII which represents viruses responsible for recent epidemics in many Asian countries including Korea. The epidemiological importance of domestic duck isolates of NDV in Korea is discussed.
Lee
Eun-Kyoung
EK
National Veterinary Research Institute, National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service, Gyeonggi 430-824, Republic of Korea.
Jeon
Woo-Jin
WJ
Kwon
Jun-Hun
JH
Yang
Chang-Bum
CB
Choi
Kang-Seuk
KS
D000818:Animals; D004372:Ducks; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D009521:Newcastle Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D009522:Newcastle disease virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010802:Phylogeny; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary