Genetic Characterisation of Group-A Rotavirus Detected in Diarrhoeic Bovine Calves in Madhya Pradesh

Diarrhoeal disease continues to be an important cause of morbidity and mortality among neonates of various animal species worldwide. Amongst several viral agents associated with diarrhoea, rotavirus (RV) has been recognised as the major aetiological agent. In the following study, 184 faecal samples from diarrhoeic bovine claves were collected from different dairy farms of Madhya Pradesh (M.P), central India. Of these, 25 samples (13.6%) were found to be positive for RV infection using RNA polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and reverse-transcription-polymerase chain reaction. One of the isolates (cow/C-32/IND/2008/G10) of predominant genotype (G10) was selected for sequence and SimPlot analysis. The results suggested occurrence of group-A RV in bovine population of central India, with circulation of a G10 genotype, which showed sequence identity of 63-98% with other bovine, human and porcine G10 isolates from India and other parts of the world. The C-32 isolate showed maximum sequence identity (98%) with a RV strain isolated from water buffaloes of Punjab (BRV 73Acc. No. EU311194). Our isolate showed minimum sequence identity (6372%) with G10 bovine isolates from the eastern region of the country (RUBVM135, EF200544 and EF200543). The results confirm circulation of divergent strains of G10 genotypes in India and warrants further molecular studies to understand the evolution of divergent G10 virus population in nature.