Molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis of Murray Valley encephalitis virus and West Nile virus (Kunjin subtype) from an arbovirus disease outbreak in horses in Victoria, Australia, in 2011.
Virus was detected in the central nervous system (CNS) tissue of 11 horses from Victoria that died displaying neurological symptoms during an outbreak of disease in Australia in 2011. Five horses were identified as being infected with Murray Valley encephalitis virus (MVEV) and 6 as being infected with West Nile virus subtype Kunjin (WNV(KUN)). Analysis of partial sequence information from the NS5 and E genes indicated that the MVEVs within the samples were highly homogenous and all belonged to lineage I, which is enzootic to the tropical regions of northern Australia. Likewise, analysis of partial NS5 and E gene and full genome sequences indicated that the WNV(KUN) within the samples were also highly homogenous and clustered with WNV lineage 1, clade b, which is consistent with other WNV(KUN) isolates. Full genomes of 1 MVEV isolate and 2 WNV(KUN) isolates were sequenced and characterized. The genome sequences of Victorian WNV(KUN) are almost identical (3 amino acid differences) to that of the recently sequenced WNV isolate WNV(NSW2011). Metagenome sequencing directly from CNS tissue identified the presence of WNV(KUN) and MVEV within infected CNS tissue.
Biosciences Research Division, Department of Primary Industries, AgriBio, 5 Ring Road, Bundoora, VIC, 3083, Australia.
Rachel A
RA
Mann
Mark
M
Fegan
Kim
K
O'Riley
Julian
J
Motha
Simone
S
Warner
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary*; D018068:Encephalitis Virus, Murray Valley / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004671:Encephalitis, Arbovirus / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D006736:Horses; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*
C096041:NS5 protein, flavivirus; D012367:RNA, Viral; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins