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Virologica Sinica2022; 37(2); 229-237; doi: 10.1016/j.virs.2022.02.004

Molecular and serological surveillance of Getah virus in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China, 2017-2020.

Abstract: The Getah virus (GETV), a mosquito-borne RNA virus, is widely distributed in Oceania and Asia. GETV is not the only pathogenic to horses, pigs, cattle, foxes and boars, but it can also cause fever in humans. Since its first reported case in Chinese mainland in 2017, the number of GETV-affected provinces has increased to seventeen till now. Therefore, we performed an epidemiologic investigation of GETV in the Xinjiang region, located in northwestern China, during the period of 2017-2020. ELISA was used to analyze 3299 serum samples collected from thoroughbred horse, local horse, sheep, goat, cattle, and pigs, with thoroughbred horse (74.8%), local horse (67.3%), goat (11.7%), sheep (10.0%), cattle (25.1%) and pigs (51.1%) being positive for anti-GETV antibodies. Interestingly, the neutralizing antibody titer in horses was much higher than in other species. Four samples from horses and pigs were positive for GETV according to RT-PCR. Furthermore, from the serum of a local horse, we isolated GETV which was designated as strain XJ-2019-07, and determined its complete genome sequence. From the phylogenetic relationships, it belongs to the Group III lineage. This is the first evidence of GETV associated to domestic animals in Xinjiang. Overall, GETV is prevalent in Xinjiang and probably has been for several years. Since no vaccine against GETV is available in China, detection and monitoring strategies should be improved in horses and pigs, especially imported and farmed, in order to prevent economic losses.
Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Publishing services by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2022-02-14 PubMed ID: 35527224PubMed Central: PMC9170979DOI: 10.1016/j.virs.2022.02.004Google Scholar: Lookup
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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.

The study investigates the prevalence and epidemiology of the Getah virus (GETV), a mosquito-borne RNA virus capable of infecting a variety of animals and causing fever in humans, in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China from 2017 to 2020.

About the Research

  • The research team conducted an extensive study into GETV, a virus widely found in Oceania and Asia that affects several species of animals and was first reported in mainland China in 2017.
  • The virus has since been detected in seventeen provinces and has the potential to cause considerable economic damage due to its impact on livestock, particularly horses and pigs.
  • The team collected 3299 serum samples from different animal species in the Xinjiang region, which is located in northwestern China, over a three-year period.

Testing and Results

  • The team used ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) to perform analyses on these samples in order to detect anti-GETV antibodies, which would indicate the virus’s presence.
  • A significant number of animals were found to be positive for the antibodies, particularly thoroughbred horses (74.8%) and local horses (67.3%). The virus was also found in goats (11.7%), sheep (10.0%), cattle (25.1%), and pigs (51.1%).
  • The researchers discovered that the neutralizing antibody titer in horses was much higher than in other tested species.
  • Using RT-PCR (Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction), four samples from horses and pigs were confirmed positive for GETV.
  • They successfully isolated the GETV virus from the serum of a local horse and determined its complete genome sequence, designating it as the strain XJ-2019-07.
  • Phylogenetic analysis revealed that this strain belongs to the Group III lineage of the virus.

Final Observations and Recommendations

  • This study provided the first evidence of GETV’s association with domestic animals in Xinjiang.
  • These findings indicate that GETV is prevalent in the region and has likely been present for several years.
  • As there is currently no vaccine against GETV available in China, improved detection and monitoring strategies are recommended for horses and pigs, particularly those imported and farmed, in order to prevent significant economic losses.

Cite This Article

APA
Shi N, Qiu X, Cao X, Mai Z, Zhu X, Li N, Zhang H, Zhang J, Li Z, Shaya N, Lu H, Jin N. (2022). Molecular and serological surveillance of Getah virus in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China, 2017-2020. Virol Sin, 37(2), 229-237. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.virs.2022.02.004

Publication

Virologica Sinica
ISSN: 1995-820X
NlmUniqueID: 101514185
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 37
Issue: 2
Pages: 229-237
PII: S1995-820X(22)00036-0

Researcher Affiliations

Shi, Ning
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, China; Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, 130000, China.
Qiu, Xiangshu
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, China; Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, 130000, China.
Cao, Xinyu
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, China; Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, 130000, China.
Mai, Zhanhai
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Wulumuqi, 830052, China.
Zhu, Xiangyu
  • Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, 130000, China.
Li, Nan
  • Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, 130000, China.
Zhang, He
  • Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, 130000, China.
Zhang, Jinyong
  • Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, 130000, China.
Li, Zhuoxin
  • Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, 130000, China.
Shaya, Nuerlan
  • Yili Center of Animal Disease Control and Diagnosis, Yili Animal Health Inspection, Yining, 844500, China.
Lu, Huijun
  • Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, 130000, China. Electronic address: huijun_lu@126.com.
Jin, Ningyi
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, China; Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, 130000, China. Electronic address: ningyik@126.com.

MeSH Terms

  • Alphavirus / genetics
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / blood
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Cattle / virology
  • China / epidemiology
  • Culicidae / virology
  • Goats / virology
  • Horses / virology
  • Male
  • Phylogeny
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Sheep / virology
  • Swine / virology

Conflict of Interest Statement

Conflict of interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 15 times.
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