title: Complete molecular genome analyses of equine rotavirus A strains from different continents reveal several novel genotypes and a largely conserved genotype constellation.
abstract: In this study, the complete genome sequences of seven equine group A rotavirus (RVA) strains (RVA/Horse-tc/GBR/L338/1991/G13P[18], RVA/Horse-wt/IRL/03V04954/2003/G3P[12] and RVA/Horse-wt/IRL/04V2024/2004/G14P[12] from Europe; RVA/Horse-wt/ARG/E30/1993/G3P[12], RVA/Horse-wt/ARG/E403/2006/G14P[12] and RVA/Horse-wt/ARG/E4040/2008/G14P[12] from Argentina; and RVA/Horse-wt/ZAF/EqRV-SA1/2006/G14P[12] from South Africa) were determined. Multiple novel genotypes were identified and genotype numbers were assigned by the Rotavirus Classification Working Group: R9 (VP1), C9 (VP2), N9 (NSP2), T12 (NSP3), E14 (NSP4), and H7 and H11 (NSP5). The genotype constellation of L338 was unique: G13-P[18]-I6-R9-C9-M6-A6-N9-T12-E14-H11. The six remaining equine RVA strains showed a largely conserved genotype constellation: G3/G14-P[12]-I2/I6-R2-C2-M3-A10-N2-T3-E2/E12-H7, which is highly divergent from other known non-equine RVA genotype constellations. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that the sequences of these equine RVA strains are related distantly to non-equine RVA strains, and that at least three lineages exist within equine RVA strains. A small number of reassortment events were observed. Interestingly, the three RVA strains from Argentina possessed the E12 genotype, whereas the three RVA strains from Ireland and South Africa possessed the E2 genotype. The unusual E12 genotype has until now only been described in Argentina among RVA strains collected from guanaco, cattle and horses, suggesting geographical isolation of this NSP4 genotype. This conserved genetic configuration of equine RVA strains could be useful for future vaccine development or improvement of currently used equine RVA vaccines.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jelle
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Matthijnssens
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Virología, CICVyA, INTA Castelar, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miño
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Medical Research Institute, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Hajnalka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Papp
authors.affiliation: Ondersterpoort Veterinary Institute, Onderstepoort, South Africa.
authors.forename: Christiaan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Potgieter
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Novo
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Heylen
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zeller
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Virología, CICVyA, INTA Castelar, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Lorena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Garaicoechea
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Virología, CICVyA, INTA Castelar, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Alejandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Badaracco
authors.affiliation: Dr György Radó Military Medical Centre, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: György
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lengyel
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Genetics, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.
authors.forename: Péter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kisfali
authors.affiliation: Irish Equine Centre, Johnstown, Naas, Co. Kildare, Ireland.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cullinane
authors.affiliation: Molecular Epidemiology Laboratory, Cork Institute of Technology, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research and Development, Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
authors.forename: Max
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ciarlet
authors.affiliation: Molecular Epidemiology Laboratory, Cork Institute of Technology, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: O'Shea
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Virología, CICVyA, INTA Castelar, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Viviana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Parreño
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Medical Research Institute, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Krisztián
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bányai
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Virología, CICVyA, INTA Castelar, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barrandeguy
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Van Ranst
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D017124:Conserved Sequence / Q000235:genetics*; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D005814:Genes, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D016679:Genome, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000821:virology*; D006736:Horses / Q000821:virology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000235:genetics*; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology