title: Molecular characterization of picobirnaviruses from new hosts.
abstract: Picobirnaviruses (PBVs) have recently been classified into the Picobirnaviridae family. They are small, non-enveloped viruses with bisegmented, double-stranded (ds) RNA genomes. Although they are found in the feces of a broad range of hosts, information regarding their genomes is limited to viruses detected from humans, rabbits, and porcine. Identification of PBVs has been done using PAGE and reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR). In this study, we present a phylogenetic analysis of PBVs detected in the feces of dogs, snakes, and rats. In addition, we compare these strains to those from human and porcine hosts. To do so, 487 fecal specimens from dogs, snakes and rats were analyzed by PAGE. The positive specimens for PBV were tested by RT-PCR using primers for genogroup I of the PBVs. From the 11 genogroup I PBV samples, at least one from each host was sequenced and submitted for phylogenetic analysis. All of the sequences showed high homology with the human and porcine genogroup I PBV sequences. In this study we report the first detection of PBVs in snakes (8.5%). We also report a phylogenetic analysis that goes beyond humans and pigs to include dogs, rats, and snakes. However, more hosts must be included in the analysis so that we may reach better conclusions regarding the spread of these viruses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biology, CP 6109, State University of Campinas - UNICAMP, Monteiro Lobato, 13083-970, Campinas, SP, Brazil. mclaradf@unicamp.br
authors.forename: Maria Clara Duarte
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Fregolente
authors.forename: Erich
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: de Castro-Dias
authors.forename: Sandra Soares
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Fernando Rosado
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Spilki
authors.forename: Silmara Marques
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Allegretti
authors.forename: Maria Silvia Viccari
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Gatti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs / Q000821:virology*; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D018708:Picobirnavirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012327:RNA Virus Infections / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats / Q000821:virology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D012911:Snakes / Q000821:virology*; D013552:Swine / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral