Bagaza virus and Israel turkey meningoencephalomyelitis virus are a single virus species.
Bagaza virus (BAGV) and Israel turkey meningoencephalomyelitis virus (ITV) are classified in the genus Flavivirus of the family Flaviviridae. Serologically, they are closely related, belonging to the Ntaya serocomplex. Nucleotide sequences available to date consist of several complete sequences of BAGV isolates, but only partial sequences of ITV isolates. Sequence comparisons of partial envelope (E) and NS5 regions reveal a close genetic relationship between these viruses. Despite this, BAGV and ITV are considered as separate virus species in the database of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. In this work, complete nucleotide sequences for five ITV isolates are provided, thereby permitting a phylogenetic comparison with other complete sequences of flaviviruses in the Ntaya serogroup. We conclude that BAGV and ITV are the same virus species and propose that both viruses be designated by a new unified name: Avian meningoencephalomyelitis virus.
Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA)-INIA, Ctra. Algete-El Casar s/n, 28130 Valdeolmos, Spain.
Jovita
J
Fernández-Pinero
Division of Avian and Fish Diseases, Kimron Veterinary Institute, PO Box 12, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel.
Irit
I
Davidson
Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA)-INIA, Ctra. Algete-El Casar s/n, 28130 Valdeolmos, Spain.
Maia
M
Elizalde
Israel Veterinary Services, PO Box 12, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel.
Shimon
S
Perk
Veterinary Vaccine Control Laboratory, Kimron Veterinary Institute, PO Box 12, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel.
Yevgeny
Y
Khinich
Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA)-INIA, Ctra. Algete-El Casar s/n, 28130 Valdeolmos, Spain.
Miguel Angel
MA
Jiménez-Clavero
D000818:Animals; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005416:Flavivirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016679:Genome, Viral; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000235:genetics
C096041:NS5 protein, flavivirus; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins; C065696:glycoprotein E, Flavivirus