title: Whole genome sequencing and phylogenetic characterization of brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus) origin ranavirus strains from independent disease outbreaks.
abstract: Ranaviruses are emerging pathogens associated with high mortality diseases in fish, amphibians and reptiles. Here we describe the whole genome sequence of two ranavirus isolates from brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus) specimens collected in 2012 at two different locations in Hungary during independent mass mortality events. The two Hungarian isolates were highly similar to each other at the genome sequence level (99.9% nucleotide identity) and to a European sheatfish (Silurus glanis) origin ranavirus (ESV, 99.7%-99.9% nucleotide identity). The coding potential of the genomes of both Hungarian isolates, with 136 putative proteins, were shared with that of the ESV. The core genes commonly used in phylogenetic analysis of ranaviruses were not useful to differentiate the two brown bullhead ESV strains. However genome-wide distribution of point mutations and structural variations observed mainly in the non-coding regions of the genome suggested that the ranavirus disease outbreaks in Hungary were caused by different virus strains. At this moment, due to limited whole genome sequence data of ESV it is unclear whether these genomic changes are useful in molecular epidemiological monitoring of ranavirus disease outbreaks. Therefore, complete genome sequencing of further isolates will be needed to identify adequate genetic markers, if any, and demonstrate their utility in disease control and prevention.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Veterinary Medical Research, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Hungária krt. 21, 1143 Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Enikő
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fehér
authors.affiliation: Institute for Veterinary Medical Research, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Hungária krt. 21, 1143 Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Andor
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Doszpoly
authors.affiliation: Biological Research Center, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Temesvári krt. 62, Szeged, 6726, Hungary.
authors.forename: Balázs
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Horváth
authors.affiliation: Institute for Veterinary Medical Research, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Hungária krt. 21, 1143 Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Szilvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marton
authors.affiliation: Institute for Veterinary Medical Research, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Hungária krt. 21, 1143 Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Forró
authors.affiliation: Institute for Veterinary Medical Research, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Hungária krt. 21, 1143 Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Szilvia L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Farkas
authors.affiliation: Institute for Veterinary Medical Research, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Hungária krt. 21, 1143 Budapest, Hungary. Electronic address: bkrota@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Krisztián
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bányai
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Diagnostic Directorate, National Food Chain Safety Office, Tábornok u. 2, 1143 Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Tamás
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Juhász
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004266:DNA Virus Infections / Q000662:veterinary / Q000821:virology*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000821:virology*; D006814:Hungary; D007059:Ictaluridae / Q000821:virology*; D010802:Phylogeny; D017995:Ranavirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification
keywords: Hungary; Iridoviridae; Molecular characterization