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Group A rotaviruses (RVAs) are divided into neuraminidase (NA)-sensitive and NA-insensitive strains depending upon their binding affinity to the VP8* domain in the terminal sialic acids (SAs) of cell surface carbohydrates. Although NA-sensitive strains are known to use terminal SAs as an attachment factor, the exact nature of this attachment factor is largely unknown. Here we show that the specific linkage of SA-containing glycan to glycoprotein or glycolipid is an attachment factor used by NA-sensitive porcine G9P[7] PRG9121 and G9P[23] PRG942, bovine G6P[1] NCDV, and canine G3P[3] strains. Infectivity of porcine G9P[7] and G9P[23] strains was markedly blocked by α2,3-linkage and α2,6-linkage inhibitors, indicating that these strains bind to both α2,3- and α2,6-linked SAs. However, the infectivity of bovine G6P[1] and canine G3P[3] strains was significantly reduced by α2,6-linkage inhibitor but not by α2,3-linkage blockers, demonstrating a predilection of these strains for α2,6-linked SAs. The infectivity of four NA-sensitive strains was equally reduced by inhibitors of lipid membrane and N -linked glycoprotein but not by an inhibitor of O -linked glycoprotein, indicating that these strains utilize both glycolipid and N -linked glycoprotein. Our study demonstrates that four NA-sensitive animal strains could have a strain-dependent binding preference toward α2,6-linked SAs (P[1] NCDV and P[3] CU-1 strains) or both α2,3- and α2,6-linked SAs (P[7] PRG9121 and P[23] PRG942 strains) to the glycolipid and N -linked glycoprotein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Group A rotaviruses (GARV) are a significant cause of enteritis in young pigs. The aim of this study was to extend our understanding of the molecular epidemiology of porcine GARV in the UK by investigating the genetic diversity of GARV on a conventional farrow-to-finish farm. Faecal samples were obtained from six batches of pigs in 2009 and 8 batches in 2010, when the pigs were 2, 3 (time point omitted in 2009), 4, 5, 6 and 8 weeks of age. Presence of rotavirus was detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in 89% and 80% of samples from 2009 and 2010, respectively. A combination of multiplex PCRs and sequencing identified four VP7 genotypes (G2, G3, G4 and G5) and three VP4 genotypes (P[6], P[7] and P[32]) present in almost every combination over the 2 years. The predominant genotype combination was G5P[32] in 2009 and G4P[32] in 2010. Conservation among the P[32] sequences between 2009 and 2010 suggests that reassortment may have led to the different genotype combinations. There were significant changes in the predominant VP7 genotype prior to weaning at 4 weeks, and post weaning when pigs were moved to a different building. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that introduction of new viruses onto the farm was limited. Taken together, these findings suggest that genetically diverse GARV strains persist within the farm environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alpacas ( Vicugna pacos ), a species of South American camelids (SAC), suffer high morbidity and mortality from infectious diseases. Diarrhea is one of the leading causes of alpaca cria mortality in Peru and elsewhere. In order to develop appropriate control and/or treatment, it is necessary to identify infectious pathogens that cause diarrhea in crias. Rotavirus was isolated in cell culture from feces collected from crias with acute diarrhea that tested positive to rotaviral antigen by rapid immunochromatographic methods in an earlier study. The isolates were identified as rotaviruses by RT-PCR run with specific primers for human rotavirus VP7 coding sequences using total RNA extracted from cells displaying cytopathic effects as template. These alpaca isolates were further identified as group A rotaviruses by means of a VP6-specific PCR and were designated as ALRVA-K’ayra/Perú/3368-10 and ALRVA-K’ayra/Perú/3386-10. Molecular G and P typing, placed the former as G3/P11 and the latter as G3/P?. Sequence analysis of two genome segments (coding for VP4 and VP7) from the alpaca isolates revealed partial homologies to swine and human rotaviruses, respectively. These results demonstrate that rotaviruses are associated with a proportion of cases of diarrhea in crias, although prevalence and impact remain to be determined. The isolation of rotaviruses from alpaca crias with diarrhea will contribute positively to further understand the pathogen and its role in the diarrhea complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porcine group A rotavirus (RVA) strain P343 (RVA/Pig-tc/THA/P343/1991/G10P[5]) was suggested to have VP7 and VP4 genes of bovine origin. In order to obtain precise information on the exact origin and evolution of this unusual porcine strain, the remaining nine genes (VP6, VP1-3, and NSP1-5) of strain P343 were sequenced and analyzed in the present study. On whole genomic analysis, strain P343 was found to have a bovine RVA-like genotype constellation (G10-P[5]-I2-R2-C2-M2-A3-N2-T6-E2-H3) different from those of typical porcine RVA strains. Furthermore, on phylogenetic analysis, each of the 11 genes of strain P343 appeared to be of bovine origin. Therefore, strain P343 was suggested to be a bovine RVA strain that was transmitted to pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Group A Rotaviruses (RVA) have been established as significant contributory agents of acute gastroenteritis in young children and many animal species. In 2008, we described the first RVA strain detected in a giraffe calf (RVA/Giraffe-wt/IRL/GirRV/2008/G10P[11]), presenting with acute diarrhoea. Molecular characterisation of the VP7 and VP4 genes revealed the bovine-like genotypes G10 and P[11], respectively. To further investigate the origin of this giraffe RVA strain, the 9 remaining gene segments were sequenced and analysed, revealing the following genotype constellation: G10-P[11]-I2-R2-C2-M2-A3-N2-T6-E2-H3. This genotype constellation is very similar to RVA strains isolated from cattle or other members of the artiodactyls. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed the close relationship between GirRV and RVA strains with a bovine-like genotype constellation detected from several host species, including humans. These results suggest that RVA strain GirRV was the result of an interspecies transmission from a bovine host to the giraffe calf. However, we cannot rule out completely that this bovine-like RVA genotype constellation may be enzootic in giraffes. Future RVA surveillance in giraffes may answer this intriguing question. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Group A rotaviruses (RVAs) are the main etiological agent of infantile diarrhea in both humans and animals worldwide. A limited number of studies have investigated the molecular characteristics of RVA strains in stool specimens of rabbits, with only a few lapine RVA strains isolated and (partially) characterized to date. The most common G/P-genotype combinations found in rabbits are G3P[14] and G3P[22]. In this study a RVA strain was isolated from the small intestine of a 9-week-old rabbit from an infected laboratory rabbit colony. The RVA strain RVA/Rabbit-tc/NLD/K1130027/2011/G6P[11] was shown to possess the typical bovine G6 and P[11] genotypes. The complete genome of this unusual lapine strain was sequenced and characterized. Phylogenetic analyses of all 11 gene segments revealed the following genotype constellation: G6-P[11]-I2-R2-C2-M2-A13-N2-T6-E2-H3. The VP1, VP2, VP3, VP6, NSP2 and NSP4 genes all belonged to DS-1-like genotype 2, but clustered more closely to bovine RVA strains than to lapine RVA strains. The NSP1 genotype A13 is typically associated with bovine RVAs, while the NSP3 genotype T6 and the NSP5 genotype H3 have been found in a wide variety of species. However, the isolated strain clustered within bovine(-like) T6 and H3 subclusters. Overall, the data indicate that the RVA strain is most closely related to bovine-like RVA strains and most likely represents a direct interspecies transmission from a cow to a rabbit. Altogether, these findings indicate that a RVA strain with an entirely bovine genome constellation was able to infect and spread in a laboratory rabbit colony. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The present investigation describes detection of a mammalian-like electropherogroup A rotavirus in chicken with diarrhoea. This also records the first detection of a rotavirus in an avian species from India. During the investigation 75 diarrhoeic faecal samples collected from adult chicken were screened for the presence of group A rotavirus antigen by sandwich ELISA. All three samples positive for rotavirus antigen revealed 11 bands of RNA in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). In contrast to avian group A rotavirus, segment 5 was found to migrate closer to 6 as is the case with mammalian group A rotaviruses. Segments 7, 8 and 9 were found to migrate as a tight triplet, which is characteristic of group A rotavirus. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]