Genetic and biological characterization of Newcastle disease viruses circulating in Bangladesh during 2010–2017: further genetic diversification of class II genotype XIII in Southcentral Asia

Abstract

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is endemic in Bangladesh and is a major threat to commercial poultry operations. While complete fusion (F) genes are recommended for molecular characterization and classification of NDV isolates, heretofore, only partial F gene data have been available for Bangladeshi NDVs. To this end, we obtained the full-length F gene coding sequences of 11 representative NDVs isolated in Bangladesh between 2010 and 2017. In addition, one of the viruses (MK934289/chicken/Bangladesh/C161/2010) was used in an experimental infection of chickens to establish the viral pathotype and study gross and microscopic lesions. Phylogenetic analysis provided evidence that all studied Bangladeshi isolates belong to genotype XIII.2 of class II NDVs. Six of the viruses were isolated between 2010 and 2017 and grouped together with isolates from neighbouring India during 2013–2016. Another four Bangladeshi isolates (2010–2016) formed a separate monophyletic branch within XIII.2 and showed high nucleotide distance from the isolates from India and the other six Bangladeshi viruses within the sub-genotype; however, none of these groups fulfils all classification criteria to be named as a separate sub-genotype. The eleventh Bangladeshi virus studied here (C162) was genetically more distant from the remaining isolates. It out-grouped the viruses from sub-genotypes XIII.2.1 and XIII.2.2 and showed more than 9.5 % nucleotide distance from all genotype XIII sub-genotypes. This isolate may represent an NDV variant that is evolving independently from the other viruses in the region. The experimental infection in chickens revealed that the tested isolate (C161) is a velogenic viscerotropic virus. Massive haemorrhages, congestion and necrosis in different visceral organs, and lymphoid depletion in lymphoid tissues, typical for infection with velogenic NDV, were observed. Our findings demonstrate the endemic circulation of sub-genotype XIII.2 in Southcentral Asia and further genetic diversification of these viruses in Bangladesh and neighbouring India. This constant evolution of the viruses may lead to the establishment of new genetic groups in the region. Additional historical and prospective virus and surveillance data from the region and neighbouring countries will allow a more detailed epidemiological inference.

Surveillance on respiratory diseases reveals enzootic circulation of both H5 and H9 avian influenza viruses in small‐scale commercial layer farms of Bangladesh

“…NDV was detected in 15 outbreaks. Velogenic viscerotropic NDV of genotype XIII is endemic in Bangladesh (Barman et al, 2017;Nooruzzaman et al, 2015Nooruzzaman et al, , 2021.…”

“…Globally, virus infections have more impact on poultry production as compared to infection with other pathogens (Bertran et al, 2020). Serological and virological evidence suggests that respiratory infections are very common in commercial poultry farms of Bangladesh (Ali, 2020;Bhuiyan et al, 2019;Ganapathy et al, 2021;Islam et al, 2010;Nooruzzaman et al, 2021;Parvin et al, 2018).…”

A Pigeon-Derived Sub-Genotype XXI.1.2 Newcastle Disease Virus from Bangladesh Induces High Mortality in Chickens

“…For F-gene amplification, SuperScript ® III One-Step RT-PCR System with Platinum ® Taq DNA polymerase (Life Technologies, USA) was used following the manufacturer’s recommendations. The F-gene coding sequence was amplified using two overlapping RT-PCR with primer pairs NDVF13-F1 5′-GAC GCA ACA TGG GCT CCA RAY CTT-3′, NDVF13-R1 5′-GGC AAA CCC TCT GGT CGT GCT YAC-3′, and NDVF13-F2 5′-TTG GGA AAA TGC AAC AGT TTG-3′, NDVF13-R2 5′-GCAT TCA CCT TTC ATC TGC GTT CA-3′ [ 46 ]. The RT-PCR product was subjected to electrophoresis in 1% agarose gel.…”

Transboundary Animal Diseases, an Overview of 17 Diseases with Potential for Global Spread and Serious Consequences

“…There have been four historic panzootics of NDV, and the current panzootic is due to genotype VII viruses [428]. Recent work in Bangledesh has identified the circulating NDV in that country as class II genotype XIII, with a possible new variant evolving away from that genotype [434].…”