title: Genetic diversity of serotype A foot-and-mouth disease viruses in Kenya from 1964 to 2013; implications for control strategies in eastern Africa.
abstract: Serotype A is the most genetically and antigenically diverse of the foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) serotypes. Records of its occurrence in Kenya date back to 1952 and the antigenic diversity of the outbreak viruses in this region is reflected by the current use of two different vaccine strains (K5/1980 and K35/1980) and previous use of two other strains (K18/66 and K179/71). This study aimed at enhancing the understanding of the patterns of genetic variation of serotype A FMDV in Kenya. The complete VP1 coding region sequences of 38 field isolates, identified as serotype A FMDV, collected between 1964 and 2013 were determined. Coalescent-based methods were used to infer times of divergence of the virus strains and the evolutionary rates alongside 27 other serotype A FMDV sequences from Genbank and the World Reference Laboratory (WRL). This study represents the first comprehensive genetic analysis of serotype A FMDVs from Kenya. The study detected four previously defined genotypes/clusters (termed G-I, G-III, G-VII and G-VIII), within the Africa topotype, together with a fifth lineage that has apparently emerged from within G-I; these different lineages have each had a countrywide distribution. Genotypes G-III and G-VIII that were first isolated in 1964 are now apparently extinct; G-VII was last recorded in 2005, while G-I (including the new lineage) is currently in widespread circulation. High genetic diversity, widespread distribution and transboundary spread of serotype A FMDVs across the region of eastern Africa was apparent. Continuous surveillance for the virus, coupled to genetic and antigenic characterization is recommended for improved regional control strategies.
authors.affiliation: Foot-and-Mouth Disease Laboratory, Embakasi, P.O. Box 18021, 00500 Nairobi, Kenya; Department of Environmental Management, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062/7298, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Sabenzia N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Wekesa
authors.affiliation: Foot-and-Mouth Disease Laboratory, Embakasi, P.O. Box 18021, 00500 Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: Abraham K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Sangula
authors.affiliation: National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Lindholm, DK-4771 Kalvehave, Denmark.
authors.forename: Graham J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Belsham
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Management, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062/7298, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Vincent B
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Muwanika
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Ole Maaløes Vej 5, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark; Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande 6, P-2780-156 Oeiras, Portugal.
authors.forename: Rasmus
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Heller
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Management, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062/7298, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Sheila N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Balinda
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062 Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Masembe
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Ole Maaløes Vej 5, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address: hsiegismund@bio.ku.dk.
authors.forename: Hans R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Siegismund
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003140:Communicable Disease Control; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005536:Foot-and-Mouth Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D029544:Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D007630:Kenya / Q000453:epidemiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D014764:Viral Proteins
keywords: Africa; FMDV; Genotype; Kenya; Lineage; Vaccination