Phylogenetic analysis of sheep pox virus (SPPV) virion core protein P4a gene revealed extensive sequence conservation among capripox viruses.

In the present study, virion core protein P4_a gene was PCR amplified from sheep pox virus (SPPV) Jaipur isolate and Roumanian Fanar (RF) vaccine strain adapted and propagated in lamb testis/vero cells. Gene specific primers were designed for amplification of P4_a gene. Amplified P4_a gene fragment was sequence characterized and 808 bp sequence was compared across SPPV, GTPV and LSDV isolates available in GenBank database which revealed extensive sequence conservation of 97% to 100% within pox virus groups. Sheep pox virus Jaipur isolate was found closely placed with Roumaninan Fanar (RF) and TU isolates. Further, phylogenetic analysis of P4_a gene sequence indicated three distinct clusters of Capripox viruses with GTPV interestingly placed closely to LSDV group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]