title: Phylogenetic and histological variation in avipoxviruses isolated in South Africa.
abstract: Thirteen novel avipoxviruses were isolated from birds from different regions of South Africa. These viruses could be divided into six groups, according to gross pathology and pock appearance on chick chorioallantoic membranes (CAMs). Histopathology revealed distinct differences in epidermal and mesodermal cell proliferation, as well as immune cell infiltration, caused by the different avipoxviruses, even within groups of viruses causing similar CAM gross pathology. In order to determine the genetic relationships among the viruses, several conserved poxvirus genetic regions, corresponding to vaccinia virus (VACV) A3L (fpv167 locus, VACV P4b), G8R (fpv126 locus, VLTF-1), H3L (fpv140 locus, VACV H3L) and A11R-A12L (fpv175-176 locus) were analysed phylogenetically. The South African avipoxvirus isolates in this study all grouped in clade A, in either subclade A2 or A3 of the genus Avipoxvirus and differ from the commercial fowlpox vaccines (subclade A1) in use in the South African poultry industry. Analysis of different loci resulted in different branching patterns. There was no correlation between gross morphology, histopathology, pock morphology and phylogenetic grouping. There was also no correlation between geographical distribution and virus phenotype or genotype.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Virology, Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Kristy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Offerman
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Virology, Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Olivia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Carulei
authors.affiliation: Specialist Veterinary Pathologist, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Tertius A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Gous
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Virology, Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Douglass
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town and National Health Laboratory Service, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.|Division of Medical Virology, Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Anna-Lise
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Williamson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018150:Avipoxvirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D001717:Birds; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral / Q000502:physiology; D014644:Genetic Variation; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D011213:Poxviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins