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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Microbiol / Molecular characterization of equine rotaviruses isolated in...
Veterinary microbiology2015; 176(1-2); 179-185; doi: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2015.01.011

Molecular characterization of equine rotaviruses isolated in Europe in 2013: implications for vaccination.

Abstract: Equine group A rotavirus (RVAs) mainly cause disease in foals under the age of 3 months. Only sporadic data are available on the circulation of RVAs in equine populations in Europe. In this study, 65 diarrheic samples from foals under 4 months of age were collected in Belgium (n=32), Germany (n=17), Slovenia (n=5), Sweden (n=4), Hungary (n=3), Italy (n=2), France (n=1) and The Netherlands (n=1). Forty percent of these samples (n=26) were found to be RVA positive by a quantitative RT-PCR assay. The viral load in 11 of these samples was sufficiently high to be (partially) genotyped. G3, G14 and P[12] were the main genotypes detected, and phylogenetic analyses revealed that they were closely related to contemporary equine RVA strains detected in Europe as well as in Brazil and South Africa. Regional variation was observed with only G14 and P[12] being detected in Germany, whereas mainly G3P[12] was encountered in Belgium. Surprisingly the only G14P[12] RVA strain detected in Belgium was also found to possess the very rare P[18] genotype, which has been described only once from equine RVA strain L338 detected in the UK in 1991. Despite the identification of this uncommon P[18] genotype, G3P[12] and G14P[12] RVA strains remained the most important genotypes in Europe during the study period. Based on this finding and the knowledge that G3P[12] and G14P[12] serotypes are partially cross-reactive it can be assumed that a vaccine based on an inactivated virus of the G3P[12] genotype is still relevant in the current European epidemiological situation, although the addition of a G14 strain would most likely be beneficial.
Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2015-01-16 PubMed ID: 25637313PubMed Central: PMC7126753DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2015.01.011Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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This research study examines the molecular composition of equine rotaviruses found in Europe, specifically within foals under four months old. The study identifies the main genotypes that cause these viral infections and provides insights regarding an effective vaccination strategy.

Background

  • The paper focused on equine group A rotavirus (RVAs) – a disease primarily affecting young foals under the age of 3 months.
  • Previously, there was limited data on the prevalence of RVAs in equine populations across Europe.

Research Methodology

  • Diarrheic samples from foals under 4 months were collected from various European countries including Belgium, Germany, Slovenia, Sweden, Hungary, Italy, France and The Netherlands.
  • A total of 65 samples were collected and 40% of these (26 samples) tested positive for RVA using a quantitative RT-PCR assay.

Findings

  • Various genotypes G3, G14, and P[12] were identified, with these strains relating closely to those found in not only other European countries but also in Brazil and South Africa.
  • Variation was seen across regions with only G14 and P[12] detected in Germany, whereas Belgium primarily showed the G3P[12] genotype.
  • An instance of the rare P[18] genotype was observed in a Belgian sample.
  • However, G3P[12] and G14P[12] RVA strains remained the dominant genotypes in Europe during the study period.

Implications for Vaccination

  • The researchers inferred that a vaccine consisting of an inactivated G3P[12] genotype virus could still be effective against the current European strains.
  • However, they recommend the inclusion of a G14 strain in the vaccine to increase its efficacy.

Cite This Article

APA
Matthijnssens J, Ons E, De Coster S, Conceição-Neto N, Gryspeerdt A, Van Ranst M, Raue R. (2015). Molecular characterization of equine rotaviruses isolated in Europe in 2013: implications for vaccination. Vet Microbiol, 176(1-2), 179-185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2015.01.011

Publication

Veterinary microbiology
ISSN: 1873-2542
NlmUniqueID: 7705469
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 176
Issue: 1-2
Pages: 179-185
PII: S0378-1135(15)00028-0

Researcher Affiliations

Matthijnssens, Jelle
  • KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Laboratory of Clinical & Epidemiological Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Minderbroedersstraat 10, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: Jelle.matthijnssens@uz.kuleuven.ac.be.
Ons, Ellen
  • Zoetis Belgium S.A., Mercuriusstraat 20, B-1930 Zaventem, Belgium. Electronic address: Ellen.ons@zoetis.com.
De Coster, Sarah
  • KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Laboratory of Clinical & Epidemiological Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Minderbroedersstraat 10, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: Sarah.decoster@uzleuven.be.
Conceição-Neto, Nádia
  • KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Laboratory of Clinical & Epidemiological Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Minderbroedersstraat 10, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: Nadia.daconceicaoneto@uzleuven.be.
Gryspeerdt, Annick
  • Dierengezondheidszorg Vlaanderen, Industrielaan 29, B-8820 Torhout, Belgium. Electronic address: Annick.Gryspeerdt@dgz.be.
Van Ranst, Marc
  • KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Laboratory of Clinical & Epidemiological Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Minderbroedersstraat 10, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: Marc.vanranst@uzleuven.be.
Raue, Rudiger
  • Zoetis Belgium S.A., Mercuriusstraat 20, B-1930 Zaventem, Belgium. Electronic address: Rudiger.raue@zoetis.com.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Europe / epidemiology
  • Genotype
  • Horse Diseases / prevention & control
  • Horse Diseases / virology
  • Horses
  • Phylogeny
  • Rotavirus / genetics
  • Rotavirus Infections / prevention & control
  • Rotavirus Infections / veterinary
  • Vaccination
  • Viral Vaccines / immunology

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Citations

This article has been cited 7 times.
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