title: Molecular characterisation of a bovine-like rotavirus detected from a giraffe.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rotavirus (RV), is a member of the Reoviridae family and an important etiological agent of acute viral gastroenteritis in the young. Rotaviruses have a wide host range infecting a broad range of animal species, however little is known about rotavirus infection in exotic animals. In this paper we report the first characterisation of a RV strain from a giraffe calf.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This report describes the identification and detailed molecular characterisation of a rotavirus strain detected from a 14-day-old Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis), presenting with acute diarrhea. The RV strain detected from the giraffe was characterized molecularly as G10P[11]. Detailed sequence analysis of VP4 and VP7 revealed significant identity at the amino acid sequence level to Bovine RV (BoRV).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates the need for continuous surveillance of RV strains in various animal populations, which will facilitate the identification of rotavirus hosts not previously reported. Furthermore, extending typical epidemiology studies to a broader host range will contribute to the timely identification of new emerging strain types.
authors.affiliation: Herd and Veterinary Public Health Unit, Centres for Food Safety & Food-Borne Zoonomics, UCD Veterinary Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland. loretta.mulherin1@ucdconnect.ie
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mulherin
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bryan
authors.forename: Marijke
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beltman
authors.forename: Luke
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: O'Grady
authors.forename: Eugene
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pidgeon
authors.forename: Lucie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Garon
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lloyd
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bainbridge
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: O'Shea
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Whyte
authors.forename: Séamus
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fanning
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo / Q000821:virology*; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002417:Cattle; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D012418:Ruminants / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D036022:Capsid Proteins; C060339:VP4 protein, Rotavirus; C050779:VP7 protein, Rotavirus