First identification and genomic characterization of equine hepacivirus subtype 2 in China.
Abstract: Equine hepacivirus (EqHV) is a newly discovered hepatitis C virus-like virus that can infect equines. EqHV strains circulating worldwide have been classified into subtypes 1-3. In previous studies, we detected the presence of EqHV strains of subtype 1 and 3 in China. To determine whether EqHV strains of subtype 2 are prevalent in China, serum samples were collected from 133 racehorses in Guangdong province in 2021 and were tested for EqHV RNA by RT-PCR, and the positive rate was 9% (12/133). Sequencing of the NS3 gene revealed that one field strain (GD2021) had a high degree of genetic similarity to EqHV strains of subtype 2. Subsequent genome sequencing and analysis demonstrated that strain GD2021 belongs to subtype 2. The present study enriches our knowledge about the genetic diversity of EqHV in China.
© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature.
Publication Date: 2021-09-13 PubMed ID: 34515865DOI: 10.1007/s00705-021-05228-2Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
This study presents the first identification of equine hepacivirus subtype 2 in racehorses in China and adds to the understanding of this virus’s genetic diversity in the country.
Research on Equine Hepacivirus
- Equine hepacivirus (EqHV) is a virus akin to the hepatitis C virus that specifically targets equines.
- Currently recognised globally, EqHV is divided into three subtypes – 1, 2, and 3.
- The team of researchers had previously identified the presence of EqHV strains of subtype 1 and 3 in China.
- However, there was a gap in the knowledge regarding the potential prevalence of subtype 2 EqHV strains in China.
Methodology and Testing for EqHV Subtype 2
- The team conducted a thorough test on serum samples collected from 133 racehorses in Guangdong province in 2021.
- Using RT-PCR, a laboratory technique used to detect RNA sequences, the team tested the samples for the presence of EqHV RNA.
- The rate of positive results from these tests came out to be 9% (or 12 out of 133).
Detecting, Sequencing and Analysing GD2021 Strain
- A strain from the field, identified as GD2021, was found to have a high degree of genetic similarity to EqHV strains of subtype 2, through the sequencing of the NS3 gene.
- Following this detection, the team performed further genome sequencing and analysis on the GD2021 strain.
- This comprehensive analysis confirmed that the GD2021 strain does indeed belong to the subtype 2 of EqHV.
Significance of Findings
- This study helped in the first ever identification of EqHV subtype 2 in China.
- These findings add a significant understanding to the genetic diversity of EqHV in the equine population of China.
Cite This Article
APA
Chen Y, Cai S, Zhang Y, Lai Z, Zhong L, Sun X, Li S, Lu G.
(2021).
First identification and genomic characterization of equine hepacivirus subtype 2 in China.
Arch Virol, 166(11), 3221-3224.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-021-05228-2 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
- Guangdong Technological Engineering Research Center for Pet, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
- Guangdong Technological Engineering Research Center for Pet, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
- College of animal science and technology, Guangdong polytechnic of science and trade, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
- Guangdong Technological Engineering Research Center for Pet, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
- Guangdong Technological Engineering Research Center for Pet, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
- Daqing Branches of Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Daqing, 163316, Heilongjiang Province, People's Republic of China.
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong, People's Republic of China. shoujunli@scau.edu.cn.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong, People's Republic of China. shoujunli@scau.edu.cn.
- Guangdong Technological Engineering Research Center for Pet, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong, People's Republic of China. shoujunli@scau.edu.cn.
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong, People's Republic of China. LG@scau.edu.cn.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong, People's Republic of China. LG@scau.edu.cn.
- Guangdong Technological Engineering Research Center for Pet, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong, People's Republic of China. LG@scau.edu.cn.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- China / epidemiology
- Genome, Viral
- Hepacivirus / genetics
- Hepacivirus / isolation & purification
- Hepatitis C / epidemiology
- Hepatitis C / veterinary
- Hepatitis C / virology
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / virology
- Horses
- Phylogeny
- Viral Nonstructural Proteins / genetics
Grant Funding
- 2017A030310367 / Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province
References
This article includes 7 references
- Burbelo PD, Dubovi EJ, Simmonds P, Medina JL, Henriquez JA, Mishra N, Wagner J, Tokarz R, Cullen JM, Ladarola MJ, Rice CM, Lipkin WI, Kapoor A. Serology-enabled discovery of genetically diverse hepaciviruses in a new host. J Virol 86:6171–6178.
- Lu G, Sun LS, Xu T, He D, Wang ZC, Ou SD, Jia K, Yuan LG, Li SJ. 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 .
- Lu G, Ou JJ, Sun YK, Wu LY, Xu HB, Zhang GH, Lj SJ. Natural recombination of equine hepacivirus subtype 1 within the NS5A and NS5B genes. Virology 533:93–98.
- Pfaender S, Cavalleri JMV, Walter S, Doerrbecker J, Campana B, Brown RJP, Burbelo PD, Postel A, Hahn K, Anggakusuma RN, Baumgartner W, Becher P, Heim MH, Pietschmann T, Feige K, Steinmann E. Clinical course of infection and viral tissue tropism of hepatitis C virus-like nonprimate hepaciviruses in horses. Hepatology 61:447–459.
- Ramsay JD, Evanoff R, Wilkinson TE, Divers TJ, Knowles DP, Mealey RH. Experimental transmission of equine hepacivirus in horses as a model for hepatitis C virus. Hepatology 61:1533–1546.
- Smith DB, Becher P, Bukh J, Gould EA, Meyers G, Monath T, Muerhoff AS, Pletnev A, Rico-Hesse R, Stapleton JT, Simmonds P. Proposed update to the taxonomy of the genera hepacivirus and pegivirus within the flaviviridae family. J Gen Virol 97:2894–2907.
- Wu LY, Ou JJ, Cai SQ, Ji JZ, Ren ZX, Shao R, Li SJ. First identification and genomic characterization of equine hepacivirus sub-type 3 strain in China. Virus Genes 56:777–780.
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Pacchiarotti G, Nardini R, Scicluna MT. Equine Hepacivirus: A Systematic Review and a Meta-Analysis of Serological and Biomolecular Prevalence and a Phylogenetic Update. Animals (Basel) 2022 Sep 20;12(19).
- Pourmahdi Borujeni M, Ghobadian Diali H, Mashhadi AG, Aliabad MJ. First Detection and Phylogenetic Analysis of Equine Hepacivirus (EqHV) in Iran. Vet Med Sci 2026 Jan;12(1):e70737.
- Fortier C, El-Hage C, Normand C, Hue ES, Sutton G, Marcillaud-Pitel C, Jeffers K, Bamford N, Oden E, Paillot R, Hartley C, Gilkerson J, Pronost S. Detection of Equine Parvovirus-Hepatitis Virus and Equine Hepacivirus in Archived Sera from Horses in France and Australia. Viruses 2024 May 28;16(6).
- Nardini R, Pacchiarotti G, Svicher V, Salpini R, Bellocchi MC, Conti R, Sala MG, La Rocca D, Carioti L, Cersini A, Manna G, The Equine Hepatic Viruses Consortium, Scicluna MT. First National Prevalence in Italian Horse Population and Phylogenesis Highlight a Fourth Sub-Type Candidate of Equine Hepacivirus. Viruses 2024 Apr 16;16(4).
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
