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. 2023 Dec 30;16(1):68.
doi: 10.3390/v16010068.

Identification of Putative Novel Rotavirus H VP7, VP4, VP6 and NSP4 Genotypes in Pigs

Elena Ferrari  1 , Greta Vignola  1 , Cristina Bertasio  1 , Chiara Chiapponi  1 , Giovanni Loris Alborali  1 , Vito Martella  2 , Maria Beatrice Boniotti  1
Affiliations

Identification of Putative Novel Rotavirus H VP7, VP4, VP6 and NSP4 Genotypes in Pigs

Elena Ferrari et al. Viruses. .

Abstract

Rotavirus H (RVH) has been detected in humans, pigs and bats. Recently, RVH infections were reported in different porcine farms worldwide, suggesting epidemiological relevance. However, to date, the genome information of RVH strains has been limited due to the scarcity of deposited sequences. This study aimed to characterize the VP7, VP4, VP6 and NSP4 genes of RVHs from 27 symptomatic pigs, in Italy, between 2017 and 2021. RVH genes were amplified via RT-PCR using specific primers, and the amplicons were sequenced. By coupling the data generated in this study with the sequences available in the databases, we elaborated a classification scheme useful to genotype the VP7, VP4, VP6 and NSP4 genes. The nucleotide identity and phylogenetic analyses unveiled an impressive genetic heterogeneity and allowed the classification of the Italian RVH strains into 12G (VP7), 6P (VP4), 8I (VP6) and 8E (NSP4) genotypes, of which 6I, 5E and the totality of the G and P genotypes were of novel identification. Our data highlight the high genetic variability of the RVH strains circulating in pigs and underline the importance of a robust classification system to track the epidemiology of RVHs.

Keywords: Rotavirus H; enteritis; genetic variability; genotyping; mixed infection; pig.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Phylogenetic trees constructed from a partial open reading frame of VP7, VP6, VP4 and NSP4 genes of RVH strains. Phylogenetic trees were constructed via the maximum likelihood method. Statistical support was provided via the bootstrapping of 500 pseudo-replicates. Bootstrap values above 70 are given at each branch node. Black circles represent the RVH strains analyzed in this study. Genotypes are specified on the right. The outgroup branch length for VP6 and VP4 was shortened (dotted line) due to its excessive length.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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