Rotavirus C (RVC) is a zoonotic pathogen that causes severe diarrhoea in humans and animals. Although bovine RVC is one of the major pathogens detected in outbreaks and/or sporadic cases of diarrhoea predominantly in adults, its molecular characterization is not fully understood owing to difficulty of serial passage in cell culture. In the present study, we determined the whole genome sequences of one cultivable bovine RVC, the Shintoku strain, which was identified in Hokkaido Prefecture in 1991, and another bovine RVC from the field, the Toyama strain, which was identified in Toyama Prefecture in 2010, in order to investigate genetic diversity among bovine RVCs. Furthermore, we performed genetic analyses using the sequence data from other RVCs in addition to bovine RVCs to understand genetic relationships among RVCs. Comparison of nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences among RVCs indicated high identity between bovine RVCs and low identity between human and porcine RVCs. Phylogenetic analysis showed that RVCs can be classified into different genotypes according to host species. Moreover, RVC NSP1, NSP2, and VP1 amino acid sequences contain a unique motif that is highly conserved among RVAs, suggesting that several proteins of bovine RVCs play an important role as similar as that of RVA proteins. The data presented here provide valuable molecular information that would aid in the progress of genetic analysis of RVs.
(Viral Disease and Epidemiology Research Division)
References:
Soma, J. et al (2013) J. Gen. Virol. 94:128-135
