title: Genome analysis of canine astroviruses reveals genetic heterogeneity and suggests possible inter-species transmission.
abstract: Canine astrovirus RNA was detected in the stools of 17/63 (26.9%) samples, using either a broadly reactive consensus RT-PCR for astroviruses or random RT-PCR coupled with massive deep sequencing. The complete or nearly complete genome sequence of five canine astroviruses was reconstructed that allowed mapping the genome organization and to investigate the genetic diversity of these viruses. The genome was about 6.6kb in length and contained three open reading frames (ORFs) flanked by a 5' UTR, and a 3' UTR plus a poly-A tail. ORF1a and ORF1b overlapped by 43 nucleotides while the ORF2 overlapped by 8 nucleotides with the 3' end of ORF1b. Upon genome comparison, four strains (HUN/2012/2, HUN/2012/6, HUN/2012/115, and HUN/2012/135) were more related genetically to each other and to UK canine astroviruses (88-96% nt identity), whilst strain HUN/2012/126 was more divergent (75-76% nt identity). In the ORF1b and ORF2, strains HUN/2012/2, HUN/2012/6, and HUN/2012/135 were related genetically to other canine astroviruses identified formerly in Europe and China, whereas strain HUN/2012/126 was related genetically to a divergent canine astrovirus strain, ITA/2010/Zoid. For one canine astrovirus, HUN/2012/8, only a 3.2kb portion of the genome, at the 3' end, could be determined. Interestingly, this strain possessed unique genetic signatures (including a longer ORF1b/ORF2 overlap and a longer 3'UTR) and it was divergent in both ORF1b and ORF2 from all other canine astroviruses, with the highest nucleotide sequence identity (68% and 63%, respectively) to a mink astrovirus, thus suggesting a possible event of interspecies transmission. The genetic heterogeneity of canine astroviruses may pose a challenge for the diagnostics and for future prophylaxis strategies.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Veterinary Medical Research, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Hungária krt. 21, Budapest, H-1143, Hungary.
authors.forename: Eszter
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mihalov-Kovács
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Universitá Aldo Moro di Bari, S.p. per Casamassima km 3, 70010 Valenzano, Italy.
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Martella
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Universitá Aldo Moro di Bari, S.p. per Casamassima km 3, 70010 Valenzano, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianvito
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lanave
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Universitá Aldo Moro di Bari, S.p. per Casamassima km 3, 70010 Valenzano, Italy.
authors.forename: Livia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bodnar
authors.affiliation: Institute for Veterinary Medical Research, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Hungária krt. 21, Budapest, H-1143, 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, Budapest, H-1143, Hungary.
authors.forename: Szilvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marton
authors.affiliation: Virological Research Group, Faculty of Sciences, Institute of Biology, University of Pécs, Ifjúság útja 20, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary.
authors.forename: Gábor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kemenesi
authors.affiliation: Virological Research Group, Faculty of Sciences, Institute of Biology, University of Pécs, Ifjúság útja 20, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary.
authors.forename: Ferenc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jakab
authors.affiliation: Institute for Veterinary Medical Research, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Hungária krt. 21, Budapest, H-1143, Hungary. Electronic address: bkrota@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Krisztián
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bányai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019350:Astroviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission* / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D004285:Dogs; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D015870:Gene Expression; D018740:Genetic Heterogeneity; D016679:Genome, Viral; D059014:High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; D006814:Hungary / Q000453:epidemiology; D001257:Mamastrovirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D008907:Mink / Q000821:virology; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D010802:Phylogeny; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014764:Viral Proteins
keywords: Astroviridae; Dog; Hungary; Semiconductor sequencing