Emergence of Getah Virus Infection in Horse With Fever in China, 2018.
Abstract: Getah virus (GETV) is a mosquito-borne virus that was first determined in Malaysia in 1955, and can infect humans and multiple other mammals. GETV infection in horses has been reported in Japan and India, and causes great economic losses. In China, GETV has been identified in mosquitoes, pigs, foxes, and cattle with a wide geographical distribution, but has not been detected in horses. In August 2018, a sudden onset of fever was observed in racehorse in an equestrian training center in Guangdong Province in southern China. Blood samples were collected from the sick horse, and PCR/RT-PCR analysis was performed to screen for equine viral pathogens associated with fever. The results indicated that the samples were GETV RNA positive. After RT-PCR, sequencing, and assembly, the genome of the first Chinese horse-derived GETV strain, GZ201808, was obtained. Compared with the genome sequences of other GETV strains, twelve unique nucleotide substitutions were observed in GZ201808. The genome of GZ201808 had the highest genetic identity (99.6%) with AH9192, which was detected in pigs in China in 2017. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that GZ201808 clustered in Group III, and was located in an independent branch distant from other horse-derived GETV strains, indicating a unique evolutionary pattern of GZ201808. This study first determined and described the disease course of horse infected with GETV in China, sequenced and characterized the genome of the field horse-derived GETV strain, and therefore presented an unequivocal report of GETV infection in horses in China.
Publication Date: 2019-06-20 PubMed ID: 31281304PubMed Central: PMC6596439DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01416Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article focuses on the first observed case of Getah virus (GETV), a mosquito-borne virus, in a horse in China. The discovered strain, GZ201808, has unique genetic features compared to other GETV strains, suggesting a distinct evolutionary pattern.
Introduction
- First discovered in Malaysia, Getah virus (GETV) is a mosquito-borne virus known to infect humans and various mammals.
- In China, GETV was identified in several animals but not in horses, until an incident in 2018.
- In August 2018, a fever was observed in a racehorse at an equestrian training center in Guangdong Province, southern China, indicating a potential GETV infection.
Methodology and Findings
- The researchers collected blood samples from the sick horse and ran PCR/RT-PCR analysis to test for equine viral pathogens associated with fever.
- The test results showed that the samples were GETV RNA positive, confirming the virus’s presence in the horse.
- After sequencing and assembly, the genome of a new GETV strain, named GZ201808, was obtained from the horse.
- When comparing genome sequences, the researchers discovered twelve unique nucleotide substitutions in the GZ201808 strain, making it distinct from other GETV strains.
- The genome of GZ201808 had a 99.6% genetic identity with AH9192, a strain found in pigs in China in 2017.
Conclusion and Implications
- Phylogenetic analysis showed that the GZ201808 strain clustered in Group III and was located in an independent branch distant from other horse-derived GETV strains. This suggests a unique evolutionary pattern for this strain.
- This research determined and described the disease course of a horse infected with GETV in China for the first time.
- The research also enabled the sequencing and characterization of the genome of the horse-derived GETV strain, providing a clear report of GETV infection in horses in China.
Cite This Article
APA
Lu G, Ou J, Ji J, Ren Z, Hu X, Wang C, Li S.
(2019).
Emergence of Getah Virus Infection in Horse With Fever in China, 2018.
Front Microbiol, 10, 1416.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2019.01416 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases, Guangzhou, China.
- Guangdong Technological Engineering Research Center for Pet, Guangzhou, China.
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases, Guangzhou, China.
- Guangdong Technological Engineering Research Center for Pet, Guangzhou, China.
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases, Guangzhou, China.
- Guangdong Technological Engineering Research Center for Pet, Guangzhou, China.
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases, Guangzhou, China.
- Guangdong Technological Engineering Research Center for Pet, Guangzhou, China.
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases, Guangzhou, China.
- Guangdong Technological Engineering Research Center for Pet, Guangzhou, China.
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases, Guangzhou, China.
- Guangdong Technological Engineering Research Center for Pet, Guangzhou, China.
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