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Human infection with a P[14], G3 lapine rotavirus
Karolien De Leener1, Mustafizur Rahman, Jelle Matthijnssens
1Laboratory of Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, University of Leuven, BE-3000 Louvain, Belgium.
Virology
|July 3, 2004
Summary
A novel Group A rotavirus strain, P[14], G3, caused severe diarrhea in a child. Genetic analysis suggests this strain originated from a lapine (rabbit) rotavirus, indicating potential interspecies transmission.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Group A rotaviruses are a leading cause of severe diarrhea globally in humans and animals.
- Previous understanding suggested certain rotavirus strains were host-specific.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report the first clinical case of infection with a P[14], G3 rotavirus in a human.
- To genetically characterize the novel rotavirus strain and investigate its origins.
- To explore the possibility of interspecies transmission of rotaviruses.
Main Methods:
- Clinical case reporting of a hospitalized child with severe diarrhea.
- Whole-genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the rotavirus strain B4106.
- Comparative sequence analysis of key viral genes (VP4, VP7, NSP4) with known rotavirus strains.
Main Results:
- A P[14], G3 rotavirus strain (B4106) was identified in a 6-year-old child.
- The B4106 strain showed highest genetic similarity to lapine (rabbit) rotavirus strains, particularly in VP7, VP4, and NSP4 genes.
- Phylogenetic analysis indicated a common evolutionary origin between B4106 and lapine rotaviruses.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest a lapine rotavirus may have crossed the species barrier to infect a human.
- This case highlights the potential for interspecies transmission of rotaviruses, challenging previous host-specificity assumptions.
- Further research is needed to determine the frequency and mechanisms of rotavirus interspecies transmission.