Detection of group C rotavirus in juvenile ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) with diarrhea by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction: sequencing and analysis of the complete coding region of the VP6 gene.
Nine juvenile ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) with a history of diarrhea were severely dehydrated and had distended abdomens and thin-walled small intestines that contained gas and fluid. Histologically, small intestines exhibited acute superficial atrophic enteritis. Transmission electron microscopy of the small intestine showed rotavirus-like particles within apical vacuoles. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was negative for group A rotavirus. A group C rotavirus-specific RT-PCR assay was developed using consensus primers designed from the alignment of VP6 gene sequences of porcine, bovine, and human strains. A 182-bp product of the VP6 gene was sequenced and showed significant similarity to group C rotavirus VP6 sequences. This strain was designated "Ferret Rota C-MSU." The entire coding sequence of VP6 was determined and compared with other rotaviruses. Ferret Rota C-MSU virus was found to be most closely related to Shintoku group C rotavirus. This is the first definitive identification of a group C rotavirus in ferrets, based upon RT-PCR, sequencing, and genetic analysis.
Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health, Michigan State University, Lansing, MI 48910, USA.
A G
AG
Wise
R C
RC
Smedley
M
M
Kiupel
R K
RK
Maes
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D005289:Ferrets / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000648:ultrastructure / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D012367:RNA, Viral; C061332:VP6 protein, Rotavirus