[Molecular characteristic of duck hepatitis A virus type 1 causing pancreatitis ]

[OBJECTIVE] We studied the molecular characteristics of the full-length genome of duck hepatitis A virus type 1 causing pancreatitis in Muscovy ducklings. [METHODS] We determined the entire genomic sequence of duck hepatitis A virus type 1 strain MPZJ1206 using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay and analyzed the bioinformatics of the viral genome sequence. [ RESULTS] The genome length of strain MPZJ1206 comprised 7703 bases, with a G + C content of 43.05%. The genome of MPZJ1206 contains a single, long open reading frame encoding a polypeptide of 2249 amino acids, with a genomic orgariization similar to those of other isolates of duck hepatitis A virus type 1. MPZJ1206 is identical with previously isolates by 93. 5% - 99. 6% in nucleotide sequence and 97. 9% - 99. 6% in amino acid sequence and shares genetic distance no more than 7%. Phylogenetic analysis based on genome sequence indicates that MPZJ1206 shares a close genetic relationship with two strains isolated in 2011. [CONCLUSION] Although pathotype caused by MPZJ1206 strain is significantly distinct from those induced by classical isolates of duck hepatitis A virus type 1, the genome of MPZJ1206 shares high homology with those of previous isolates. The change of pathotype may result from an alteration in viral tissue tropism of MPZJ1206.