Search

Bovine rhinitis B virus (BRBV) (genus Aphthovirus, family Picornaviridae) is a significant etiological agent of the bovine respiratory disease complex. Despite global reports on BRBV, genomic data for Japanese strains are not available. In this study, we aimed to obtain genomic information on BRBV in Japan and analyze its genetic characteristics. In nasal swabs from 66 cattle, BRBV was detected in 6 out of 10 symptomatic and 4 out of 56 asymptomatic cattle. Using metagenomic sequencing and Sanger sequencing, the nearly complete genome sequences of two Japanese BRBV strains, IBA/2211/2 and LAV/238002, from symptomatic and asymptomatic cattle, respectively, were determined. These viruses shared significant genetic similarity with known BRBV strains and exhibited unique mutations and recombination events, indicating dynamic evolution, influenced by regional environmental and biological factors. Notably, the leader gene was only approximately 80% and 90% identical in its nucleotide and amino acid sequence, respectively, to all of the BRBV strains with sequences in the GenBank database, indicating significant genetic divergence in the Japanese BRBV leader gene. These findings provide insights into the genetic makeup of Japanese BRBV strains, enriching our understanding of their genetic diversity and evolutionary mechanisms., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature.)

We sequenced the complete genome of a porcine torovirus (PToV) strain from Japan for the first time. Whole-genome analysis revealed that this strain (Iba/2018) has a mosaic sequence composed of at least three genome backgrounds, related to US, Chinese and German PToV strains. Clear recombination breakpoints were detected in the M and HE coding regions. A similarity plot and structural analysis demonstrated that the HE coding region exhibits the highest diversity, and the most sequence variation was found in the lectin domain. PToVs were divided into two lineages in the HE region, whereas clear lineages were not found in other regions.

Sapoviruses (SaVs) are enteric viruses that have been detected in human and animals previously; however, SaVs have not been identified in wild boar yet. Using a metagenomics approach, we identified SaVs in fecal samples of free-living wild boars in Japan for the first time. Six of the 48 specimens identified belonged to one genogroup (G)III, one GV and four GVI SaV sequence reads. We successfully determined complete genome of GV and GVI SaV strains using the long reverse transcription PCR strategy and the 5' rapid amplification of cDNA end method. Phylogenetic tree analysis and pairwise distance calculation revealed that GV SaV detected from wild boar was related to recently assigned GV.5 strains from pig, while GVI SaV was assigned to a new genotype within GVI. Moreover, wild boar may act as a reservoir for transmission of SaVs to the pig population (and vice versa) because GIII, GV, and GVI SaVs were all detected in pigs previously., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)