Analysis of complete genome sequences and a V239A substitution in the helicase domain of swine hepatitis E virus strains isolated in Canada.
Among Canadian swine HEV strains, only one complete genome sequence has been published so far, and there are no data on the virulence of these strains. A collection of 28 Canadian swine HEV strains was used in this study. After RNA extraction, a portion of ORF2, the 3' end of the helicase domain, and two complete genomes were amplified and sequenced. These two new Canadian complete genomes belonged to two different subtypes and showed 87.5 and 87.7% sequence identity to the Canadian swine HEV strain Arkell. The V239A substitution within the helicase domain, which is associated with increased virulence of genotype 3 HEV, was detected in one Canadian swine HEV strain. However, no human hepatitis E infections have been associated with this strain.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Food Research and Development Centre, 3600 Casavant Blvd West, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, J2S 8E3, Canada, Pierre.Ward@agr.gc.ca.
Pierre
P
Ward
Danielle
D
Leblanc
Alain
A
Houde
Julie
J
Brassard
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D000818:Animals; D002170:Canada; D016679:Genome, Viral; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology*; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000145:classification / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D010802:Phylogeny; D020365:RNA Helicases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000821:virology*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014774:Virulence
D014764:Viral Proteins; D020365:RNA Helicases