1Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Nagpur Veterinary College, Nagpur, Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University, Seminary Hills, Nagpur-440 006, Maharashtra, India.
2Department of Veterinary Public Health, Mumbai Veterinary College, Mumbai-400 012, Maharashtra, India.
*Corresponding Author: Shubhangi Warke, Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Nagpur Veterinary College, Nagpur, Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University, Seminary Hills, Nagpur-440 006, Maharashtra, India. Email: shubhangi_warke@rediffmail.com
Rotaviruses are major enteric pathogens that cause acute gastroenteritis infections in both young c hildren and animals across the globe. Group A Rotavirus is the most prevalent group that affects both humans and animals and is further divided into various G and P types based on the antigenic and molecular characterization of the VP4 and VP7 genes. VP7 determines G genotype, whereas VP4 determines P genotype. A major factor in the evolution of rotaviruses, contributing to the diversity of viruses in humans and animals, is the inter-species transmission of RVAs.
A total of 150 diarrheic fecal samples from piglets, pups and human infants (0-5 yr of age) were screened for the presence of rotaviruses by lateral flow test. The samples were further tested for rotavirus group A (RVA) by using one-step RTPCR specific to the VP4 and VP7 genes. The genetic relationship between VP7 and VP4 partial gene sequences of human infants and piglets was evaluated using phylogenetic studies.
In the present study, 13/150 (8.6%) fecal samples were found positive for rotavirus antigen by lateral flow test. Out of the diarrheic fecal samples, human infants (4/50; 8.0%), pups (03/50; 6.0%) and piglet samples (06/50; 12.00%) were positive for rotavirus. All the positive samples screened for the detection of group A Rotavirus by amplifying VP7 and VP4 genes using RT-PCR revealed that 1/6 (16.66%) and 3/4 (75%) were found positive from pigs and humans, respectively. VP4 partial sequences of H-19 and P-16 samples shared greater homology with the sequences of the VP4 gene retrieved from pigs in the USA than with those from human sequences of Maharashtra and other sequences from India. VP7 gene sequences of human infants (H-19) and piglets (P-16) were placed under different clusters. Implying the possible zoonotic relevance of this virus, the phylogenetic analysis of sequences retrieved from human newborns and piglets revealed the possibility of interspecies transmission of the rotaviral strain circulating in Nagpur.
Interspecies transmission, Phylogeny, Rotavirus, VP4, VP7
