Unexpected detection of porcine rotavirus C strains carrying human origin VP6 gene

Abstract

Background: Rotavirus C (RVC), a known etiological agent of diarrheal outbreaks, mainly inflicts swine population globally with sporadic incidence in human, cattle, ferret, mink and dog. Objective: To demonstrate the presence of RVC in Indian swine population and characterization of its selected structural (VP6) and non-structural (NSP4 and NSP5) genes. Methods: A total of 108 diarrheic samples from different regions of India were used. Isolated RNA was loaded onto polyacrylamide gel to screen for the presence of RVs through the identification of specific electrophoretic genomic migration pattern. To characterize the RVC strains, VP6 gene and NSP4 and NSP5 genes were amplified, sequenced and analyzed. Results: Based on VP6 gene specific diagnostic RT-PCR, the presence of RVC was confirmed in 12.0% (13/108) piglet fecal specimens. The nucleotide sequence analysis of VP6 gene, encoding inner capsid protein, from selected porcine RVC (PoRVC) strains revealed more than 93% homologies to human RVC strains (HuRVC) of Eurasian origin. These strains were distant from hitherto reported PoRVCs and clustered with HuRVCs, owning I2 genotype. However, the two non-structural genes, i.e. NSP4 and NSP5, of these strains were found to be of swine type, signifying a re-assortment event that has occurred in the Indian swine population. Conclusion:The findings indicate the presence of human-like RVC in Indian pigs and division of RVC clade with I2 genotype into further sub-clades. To the best of our knowledge, this appears to be the first report of RVC in Indian swine population. Incidence of human-like RVC VP6 gene in swine supports its subsequent zoonotic prospective.

Rotavirus A in wild and domestic animals from areas with environmental degradation in the Brazilian Amazon

“…Therefore, it is important to monitor the health of domestic and wild animals in their natural habitat, especially in areas with anthropic alterations that have an interface with rural communities and enterprises, in order to investigate the occurrence of RVA in this population. These communities are ecologically complex, because they have multiple hosts and endless pathogens that may eventually circulate in contiguous urban centers, in addition to the fact that it should also be considered that there is still a lack of studies showing the significance of these viruses infecting this population, as in the context of epidemiological surveillance, these animals become important, since they can be considered as natural sources, with the possibility of transmission to humans [37][38][39].…”

Comparative Sequence Analysis of Historic and Current Porcine Rotavirus C Strains and Their Pathogenesis in 3-Day-Old and 3-Week-Old Piglets

“…In contrast to RVA, the lack of a robust cell culture (except Cowden G1 genotype; Saif et al, 1988) and its sporadic nature in the past have resulted in limited knowledge on RVC epidemiology, pathogenesis, and immunity. Understanding the pathogenesis of these strains will allow diagnostic tools and preventive measures to be developed, since RVC is increasingly being detected in both animals and humans and interspecies and zoonotic transmission has been confirmed (Saif et al, 1980;Rahman et al, 2005;Amimo et al, 2013;Marthaler et al, 2014;Kattoor et al, 2017;Vlasova et al, 2017).…”

Species C Rotaviruses in Children with Diarrhea in India, 2010–2013: A Potentially Neglected Cause of Acute Gastroenteritis

“…I and J [ 8 , 9 , 10 ]. Humans and other mammalian species are affected by species A, B, C and H rotaviruses and birds by species D, F and G, and species E has been reported exclusively in pigs [ 7 , 8 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ]. The newly-proposed species I is reported in dogs [ 18 ] and cats [ 19 ], whereas species J is found in bats [ 10 ].…”

“…A few antigen-based immunoassay using RVC-specific antibodies are in use for the detection of RVC infection [ 36 ]. Moreover, VP6 gene-specific RT-PCR assays are used for the group-specific detection of RVCs [ 14 , 38 ]. The complete genome sequencing and sequence analysis of RVCs could provide a better approach to investigate the possible evolutionary relationship of viruses obtained from different host species.…”

“…The first detection of human RVC (HuRVC) in India based on serology dates back to 1990s [ 39 ]. Although, even after two decades, only a few studies have documented the presence of RVC in focal settings, the exact epidemiological blueprint is yet to be determined for India [ 1 , 14 , 37 , 40 ]. Here, we describe the screening of the stool samples from patients who either visited or were hospitalized in Haldwani (state of Uttarakhand, India), a city located at the foothills of the Himalayas.…”