Analytical Epidemiology of Genomic Variation among Pan Asia Strains of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus

Abstract

Genetic data from field isolates of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) have been used to trace the source of recent outbreaks of FMD, to design better vaccines and diagnostic tests for FMDV, and to make conclusions regarding the general variability in the FMDV genome. Though epidemiologic data associated with FMDV isolates are available, these data have been used rarely to explore possible associations of epidemiologic factors with evolution or variation of the FMDV genome. In this study, factors associated with variation in the primary immunogenic peptide gene of FMDV (VP1), for a sample of 147 serotype O, Pan Asia strain sequences were explored using traditional analytical epidemiologic methods: logistic regression and multinomial-response logistic regression. Hypothesized factors included host type (bovine, ovine, buffalo, or porcine) and geographical region (Middle East, South Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Europe). Results of two regression analyses suggest that host type and region, considered to be possible surrogates for host management, may be associated with selection in the VP1 amino acid sequence in FMDV. For example, isolates from cattle and sheep in South Asia appear to converge with a proposed ancestor sequence, whereas isolates from the same species in the Middle East and Southeast Asia appear to diverge. The methods demonstrated here could be used on a more detailed dataset to explore the selective pressure of host immunity on the evolution of FMDV antigens in an endemic setting. More broadly, epidemiologic methods could be applied extensively to molecular data to explore the causes of genomic variation in disease-causing organisms.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus Serotype O Phylodynamics: Genetic Variability Associated with Epidemiological Factors in Pakistan

“…This lack of geographical association could be due to lack of specific point location information, because samples were only classified at the country level. In another study, in which FMDV‐O PanAsia lineage sequences collected from 1989 to 2001 in the Middle East, Asia, Europe and Africa were analysed, significant associations with host and region were found (Garabed et al., 2009). Contrasting findings were presented in a global study of FMDV serotypes O and A, sampled between 1939 and 2010, where no association with FMD evolution and time, country or host species was identified (Yoon et al., 2011a).…”

Agricultural Diseases on the Move Early in the Third Millennium

“…The most significant FMD occurrence over the last decade has been the spread of the serotype O, PanAsia lineages of FMD virus across Asia and Europe. 34,48,92 The PanAsia strains have replaced previously enzootic viruses in numerous nations but have also caused incursions into several FMD-free nations, including Taiwan, the United Kingdom, Ireland, South Korea, Russia, Japan, France, and the Netherlands. The economic impact from these events has tallied well into the billions of dollars (US) from the depopulation of millions of infected and susceptible animals, trade losses, vaccine deployment, and lost tourism revenues.…”