title: Genetic and pathogenic characterisation of 11 avian reovirus isolates from northern China suggests continued evolution of virulence.
abstract: Avian reovirus (ARV) infections characterised by severe arthritis, tenosynovitis, pericarditis, and depressed growth have become increasingly frequent in recent years. In this study, we isolated and identified 11 ARV field strains from chickens with viral arthritis and reduced growth in northern China. Comparative analysis of the σC nucleotide and amino acid sequences demonstrated that all isolates, except LN05 and JS01, were closely related to ARV S1133 and clustered in the first genetic lineage. LN05 and JS01 strains were clustered in the third lineage with the ARV 138 strain. Using S1133 as a reference, five isolates were selected to infect specific-pathogen-free chickens, and we found that the recent isolated Chinese ARV strains had higher replication ability in vivo and caused enhanced mortality than the S1133 strain. These findings suggest that the pathogenicity of Chinese ARVs has been changing in recent years and disease control may become more difficult. This study provides genetic and pathogenic characterisations of ARV strains isolated in northern China and calls for a sustained surveillance of ARV infection in China in order to support a better prevention and control of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Division of Avian Immunosuppressive Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150001, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.affiliation: Division of Avian Immunosuppressive Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150001, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Division of Avian Immunosuppressive Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150001, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Yongzhen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Division of Avian Immunosuppressive Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150001, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Division of Avian Immunosuppressive Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150001, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Miao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Division of Avian Immunosuppressive Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150001, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Xiaole
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.affiliation: Division of Avian Immunosuppressive Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150001, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Yulong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Division of Avian Immunosuppressive Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150001, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Xiaomei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001168:Arthritis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary / Q000821:virology*; D002645:Chickens / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D002681:China; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D030101:Orthoreovirus, Avian / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology*