Whole-gene analysis of inter-genogroup reassortant rotaviruses from the Dominican Republic: Emergence of equine-like G3 strains and evidence of their reassortment with locally-circulating strains

Virology. 2019 Aug:534:114-131. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2019.06.007. Epub 2019 Jun 13.

Abstract

Inter-genogroup reassortant group A rotavirus (RVA) strains possessing a G3 VP7 gene of putative equine origin (EQL-G3) have been detected in humans since 2013. Here we report detection of EQL-G3P[8] RVA strains from the Dominican Republic collected in 2014-16. Whole-gene analysis of RVA in stool specimens revealed 16 EQL-G3P[8] strains, 3 of which appear to have acquired an N1 NSP1 gene from locally-circulating G9P[8] strains and a novel G2P[8] reassortant possessing 7 EQL-G3-associated genes and 3 genes from a locally-circulating G2P[4] strain. Phylogenetic/genetic analyses of VP7 gene sequences revealed nine G3 lineages (I-IX) with newly-assigned lineage IX encompassing all reported human EQL-G3 strains along with the ancestral equine strain. VP1 and NSP2 gene phylogenies suggest that EQL-G3P[8] strains were introduced into the Dominican Republic from Thailand. The emergence of EQL-G3P[8] strains in the Dominican Republic and their reassortment with locally-circulating RVA could have implications for current vaccination strategies.

Keywords: Equine-like G3 rotavirus; Gastroenteritis; Group A rotavirus; Reassortment; Vaccine.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Dominican Republic
  • Genome, Viral
  • Horse Diseases / virology*
  • Horses
  • Humans
  • Phylogeny
  • Reassortant Viruses / classification
  • Reassortant Viruses / genetics
  • Reassortant Viruses / isolation & purification*
  • Rotavirus / classification
  • Rotavirus / genetics
  • Rotavirus / isolation & purification*
  • Rotavirus Infections / veterinary*
  • Rotavirus Infections / virology*
  • Thailand
  • Viral Proteins / genetics

Substances

  • Viral Proteins