First Description of Hepacivirus and Pegivirus Infection in Domestic Horses in China: A Study in Guangdong Province, Heilongjiang Province and Hong Kong District.
Abstract: Since 2012, three viruses, known as equine hepacivirus (EqHV), equine pegivirus (EPgV) and Theiler's disease-associated virus (TDAV), have been discovered in equines. Given that these viruses are the newest members of the Flaviviridae family, genomic information concerning circulating EqHV, EPgV and TDAV strains around the world is limited. To date, no genetic surveillance studies have been performed on these three viruses in the equine population of China. Here, a total of 177 serum samples were collected from equines across China between 2014 and 2015. Using PCR, we detected viral RNA in the serum samples, six of which were EqHV positive and two of which were EPgV positive. Co-infection with the two viruses was not observed among the Chinese equines studied, and TDAV RNA was not detected in the equine serum samples collected for this study. Phylogenetic analysis of partial NS5B open reading frame (ORF), NS3 ORF, and 5' untranslated region nucleotide sequences from EqHV as well as partial NS3 ORF sequence from EPgV indicated that EqHV and EPgV have evolved into two main clades by themselves, both of which are circulating in China. Based on the partial NS5B and NS3 ORF sequences of EqHV, the sequences of one clade were also split into two subclades. This study enriches our knowledge of the geographic distribution of these three equine viruses.
Publication Date: 2016-05-16 PubMed ID: 27182887PubMed Central: PMC4868292DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0155662Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research explores the initial detection and description of Hepacivirus and Pegivirus in domestic horses in China by examining serum samples collected in 2014 and 2015. Results indicate the presence of these viruses, contributing valuable information about these viruses’ geographical distribution.
Background and Aim
- Equine Hepacivirus (EqHV), Equine Pegivirus (EPgV), and Theiler’s Disease-Associated Virus (TDAV) are relatively new members of the Flaviviridae family of viruses, discovered in 2012. These viruses are known to infect horses, but there is limited genomic information available about these strains globally.
- Before this study, there were no genetic surveillance studies conducted on these three viruses within the equine population in China.
- The aim of the study was to detect the presence of these viruses in horses across various regions of China and enhance understanding about their geographic distribution.
Methodology
- Researchers collected a total of 177 serum samples from domestic horses in Guangdong Province, Heilongjiang Province and Hong Kong District in China between 2014 and 2015.
- They used Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), a common method for amplifying targeted DNA segments, to detect the presence of viral RNA in the collected serum samples.
- They further conducted a phylogenetic analysis of various sequences from EqHV and EPgV in order to understand the evolution of these viruses.
Findings
- Out of 177 samples, six were found to be positive with EqHV and two with EPgV. The researchers did not find co-infection with both viruses in the same equine.
- TDAV RNA was not detected in any of the collected serum samples.
- The phylogenetic analysis indicated that both EqHV and EPgV have evolved into two main groups or clades. These clades are seen circulating in China.
- Additionally, based on partial NS5B and NS3 ORF sequences of EqHV, sequences of one clade further divided into two subclades.
Implications
- These results mark the first detection and documentation of Hepacivirus and Pegivirus in domestic horses in China.
- The study helps to fill a gap in the genetic surveillance data for these three relatively new horse viruses and contributes to global knowledge about the geographic distribution of these viruses.
Cite This Article
APA
Lu G, Sun L, Xu T, He D, Wang Z, Ou S, Jia K, Yuan L, Li S.
(2016).
First Description of Hepacivirus and Pegivirus Infection in Domestic Horses in China: A Study in Guangdong Province, Heilongjiang Province and Hong Kong District.
PLoS One, 11(5), e0155662.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0155662 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, P. R. China.
- Key Laboratory of Comprehensive Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, P. R. China.
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, P. R. China.
- Key Laboratory of Comprehensive Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, P. R. China.
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, P. R. China.
- Key Laboratory of Comprehensive Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, P. R. China.
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, P. R. China.
- Key Laboratory of Comprehensive Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, P. R. China.
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, P. R. China.
- Key Laboratory of Comprehensive Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, P. R. China.
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, P. R. China.
- Key Laboratory of Comprehensive Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, P. R. China.
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, P. R. China.
- Key Laboratory of Comprehensive Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, P. R. China.
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, P. R. China.
- Key Laboratory of Comprehensive Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, P. R. China.
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, P. R. China.
- Key Laboratory of Comprehensive Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, P. R. China.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- China / epidemiology
- Flaviviridae / classification
- Flaviviridae / genetics
- Flaviviridae Infections / veterinary
- Hepacivirus / classification
- Hepacivirus / genetics
- Hepatitis C / veterinary
- Hong Kong / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / virology
- Horses
- Open Reading Frames
- Phylogeny
- RNA, Viral
- Sequence Analysis, DNA
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
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