Isolation and Characterization of Bovine RVA from Northeast China, 2017–2020

Abstract

Group A rotaviruses (RVAs) are major enteric pathogens causing infections in calves. To investigate the epidemiological characteristics and genetic diversity of bovine rotavirus (BRV), 233 fecal samples were collected from calves with diarrhea in northeast China. The samples were analyzed for sequences encoding the inner capsid protein VP6 (subgroup) and the outer capsid proteins VP7 and VP4 (G and P type, respectively) using RT-PCR. Ten of the 233 samples (4.3%) were identified as BRV positive and were used for virus isolation and sequence analysis, revealing that all strains analyzed were of the G6P[1] genotype. The isolates exhibited high VP6 sequence identity to the USA cow RVA NCDV strain (>99% amino acid identity) and were further shown to be closely related to Japanese cow RVA BRV101 and Israelian human RVA G6P[1] strains, with >99% amino acid identity to VP7 and VP4 proteins, respectively. Comparative analyses of genome-predicted amino acid sequences between the isolates and the NCDV strains indicated that the antigenicity and infectivity of the strains isolated had changed. In this study, BRV genotypes and the genetic diversity among vaccinated cattle herds were monitored to provide epidemiological data and references for early diagnosis, allowing for early detection of new, potentially pathogenic RVA strains.

Development and application of one-step multiplex Real-Time PCR for detection of three main pathogens associated with bovine neonatal diarrhea

“…BRV prevalence exceeds 20% in seven provinces, and six provinces had BCoV prevalence rates above 20%. It appears that BRV remained the main etiological agents causing NCD in China, which is consistent with previous reports ( Cheng et al., 2021 ). Intriguingly, the E. coli K99 + detection rate in the herd is lower, which may be due to the current widespread use of antibiotics.…”

Characterization of bovine rotavirus isolates from diarrheic calves in Türkiye

“…VP6 structural protein is considered to be a strongly conserved protein and showing little variability in defined groups of rotaviruses. On the other side, VP6 is the major structural component of the rotavirus capsid and the commonly targeted for RVA detection [ 25 ]. Thus, the faster and sensitive detection of rotavirus infections in humans and many animal species are to be made by RT-PCR targeting the VP6 gene region [ 26 – 28 ].…”

“…In various studies conducted around the world, G6 and G10 genotypes are commonly detected in cattle populations according to the VP7 encoding gene region of rotaviruses [ 25 ], while G1-G3, G5, G8, G11, G15, G17, G21 and G24 genotypes are also detected at a lesser extend [ 29 ]. For VP4 gene region, despite P[5] and P[11] genotypes are observed frequently [ 25 ], P[1], P[3], P[6], P[7], P[14], P[17], P[21], P[29] and P[38] are also reported more rarely [ 29 ]. Frequently observed dual genotype combination of Group A rotaviruses consists of G6P[1], G6P[5], G10P[11] and G8P[1] in cattle.…”

Identification of Bovine Rotavirus Group A in Bogor, West Java

“…Diarrhea is caused by several factors. The infectious agents are one of several factors causing diarrhea (Cheng, et al, 2021). Viruses, bacteria, and protozoa are agents that cause outbreaks of severe neonatal diarrhea in cattle aged 5-18 days.…”

“…Rotaviruses are the major viral agents that are responsible for diarrhea (Cheng, et al, 2021). Rotavirus is a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), non-enveloped, and has three protein capsids belonging to the Reoviridae family.…”