Molecular characterization and phylogenetic study of the fusion genes of Newcastle disease virus from the recent outbreaks in Ahvaz, Iran

Abstract

Newcastle disease (ND) is an acute and highly contagious disease affecting many domestic and wild species of birds. Its effects are most notable in domestic poultry due to their high susceptibility and the potential for severe impacts of an epizootic on the poultry industry. In this study, partial sequences of fusion genes of three Newcastle disease virus (NDV) isolates collected during 2013-14 outbreaks from the vaccinated commercial broiler chicken farms with high mortality around Ahvaz city (Southwest of Iran) were characterized. All three isolates showed the amino acid sequence 112RRQKRF117 at the C-terminus of the F2 protein and phenylalanine at the N-terminus of the F1 protein residue 117. These amino acid sequences were identical to a known virulent motif. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that the Iranian ND isolates in this study are closely related to the genotype VIId of class II NDV strains. Our results specified that there are velogenic NDV circulating in Ahvaz commercial broiler flocks and causing outbreaks in poultry industry.

Characterization of Newcastle disease virus in broiler flocks with respiratory symptoms in some provinces of Iran

“…Besides, the amino acid sequence for lentogenic isolates is similar to the sequence of the isolates in the present study [21]. Evaluation of amino acid sequence of F0 protein cleavage site of isolates with velogenic Newcastle disease virus (subgenotype VIIb) in Ahmadi et al's (2016) study [1] and Velogenic isolates from the study of Boroomand et al (2016) in Ahvaz also followed the pattern of 112RRQKR/F117 in terms of the amino acid sequence of F0 protein cleavage site [4].…”

“…In recent years, many cases of Newcastle disease have been reported in vaccinated ocks with high antibody levels [4], and on the other hand because the identi cation of Newcastle virus in many valid studies based on protein F0 [21], so in the present study, Newcastle disease virus was isolated from ocks with respiratory symptoms and F gene was detected by Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the F gene cleavage site were examined in the recovered isolates.…”

Characterization of Newcastle Disease Virus in Broiler Flocks with Respiratory symptoms in some Provinces of Iran

“…Besides, the amino acid sequence for lentogenic isolates is similar to the sequence of the isolates in the present study [21]. Evaluation of amino acid sequence of F0 protein cleavage site of isolates with velogenic Newcastle disease virus (subgenotype VIIb) in Ahmadi et al's (2016) study [1] and Velogenic isolates from the study of Boroomand et al (2016) in Ahvaz also followed the pattern of 112RRQKR/F117 in terms of the amino acid sequence of F0 protein cleavage site [4]. Ghalyanchi et al (2018) showed that the acute and emerging subgenotype VIIi also follows the pattern of 112RRQKR/F117 in the mentioned area [10].…”

Identification of Newcastle disease virus subgenotype VII.2 in wild birds in Turkey

“…Genotype VII.1.1 has been isolated from Bulgaria and Ukraine between 2002 and 2013 [ 23 , 25 ]. Iran has reported poultry outbreaks with genotype VII.1.1 and VII.2 [ 27 , 28 ]. These studies conclude that genotype VII is a dominant strain in poultry and wild migratory birds and gradually undergoing adaptive changes, retaining fitness to survive in both immune and naturally exposed birds.…”