title: Genetic characterization of poxviruses in Camelus dromedarius in Ethiopia, 2011-2014.
abstract: Camelpox and camel contagious ecthyma are infectious viral diseases of camelids caused by camelpox virus (CMLV) and camel contagious ecthyma virus (CCEV), respectively. Even though, in Ethiopia, pox disease has been creating significant economic losses in camel production, little is known on the responsible pathogens and their genetic diversity. Thus, the present study aimed at isolation, identification and genetic characterization of the causative viruses. Accordingly, clinical case observations, infectious virus isolation, and molecular and phylogenetic analysis of poxviruses infecting camels in three regions and six districts in the country, Afar (Chifra), Oromia (Arero, Miyu and Yabello) and Somali (Gursum and Jijiga) between 2011 and 2014 were undertaken. The full hemagglutinin (HA) and partial A-type inclusion protein (ATIP) genes of CMLV and full major envelope protein (B2L) gene of CCEV of Ethiopian isolates were sequenced, analyzed and compared among each other and to foreign isolates. The viral isolation confirmed the presence of infectious poxviruses. The preliminary screening by PCR showed 27 CMLVs and 20 CCEVs. The sequence analyses showed that the HA and ATIP gene sequences are highly conserved within the local isolates of CMLVs, and formed a single cluster together with isolates from Somalia and Syria. Unlike CMLVs, the B2L gene analysis of Ethiopian CCEV showed few genetic variations. The phylogenetic analysis revealed three clusters of CCEV in Ethiopia with the isolates clustering according to their geographical origins. To our knowledge, this is the first report indicating the existence of CCEV in Ethiopia where camel contagious ecthyma was misdiagnosed as camelpox. Additionally, this study has also disclosed the existence of co-infections with CMLV and CCEV. A comprehensive characterization of poxviruses affecting camels in Ethiopia and the full genome sequencing of representative isolates are recommended to better understand the dynamics of pox diseases of camels and to assist in the implementation of more efficient control measures.
authors.affiliation: Animal Production and Health Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, International Atomic Energy Agency, Wagramer Strasse 5, P.O. Box 100, A-1400 Vienna, Austria; Institute of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Muthgasse 18, A-1190, Vienna, Austria; Research and Diagnostic Laboratories, National Veterinary Institute, P.O. Box 19, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Esayas
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gelaye
authors.affiliation: Animal Production and Health Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, International Atomic Energy Agency, Wagramer Strasse 5, P.O. Box 100, A-1400 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Jenna Elizabeth
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Achenbach
authors.affiliation: Research and Diagnostic Laboratories, National Veterinary Institute, P.O. Box 19, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Gelagay
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ayelet
authors.affiliation: Research and Diagnostic Laboratories, National Veterinary Institute, P.O. Box 19, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Shiferaw
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jenberie
authors.affiliation: Research and Diagnostic Laboratories, National Veterinary Institute, P.O. Box 19, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yami
authors.affiliation: Institute of Applied Microbiology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Muthgasse 11, 1190, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Reingard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grabherr
authors.affiliation: Institute for Veterinary Disease Control, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, Robert Koch-Gasse 17, A-2340, Mödling, Austria.
authors.forename: Angelika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Loitsch
authors.affiliation: Animal Production and Health Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, International Atomic Energy Agency, Wagramer Strasse 5, P.O. Box 100, A-1400 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Adama
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Diallo
authors.affiliation: Animal Production and Health Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, International Atomic Energy Agency, Wagramer Strasse 5, P.O. Box 100, A-1400 Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: C.Lamien@iaea.org.
authors.forename: Charles Euloge
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Lamien
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002162:Camelus / Q000821:virology; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D060085:Coinfection; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004474:Ecthyma, Contagious / Q000821:virology; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006389:Hemagglutinins, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D018155:Orthopoxvirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011212:Poxviridae / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011213:Poxviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D006389:Hemagglutinins, Viral; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins
keywords: CCEV; CMLV; Camel; Ethiopia; Genetic characterization; Poxviruses