Complete genome sequence of a Chuzan virus strain isolated for the first time in mainland China

Chuzan virus (CHUV) belongs to the Palyam serogroup, causes bovine congenital disease, and is prevalent in Asia. To date, only one full Palyam virus (PALV) genome sequence, that of Japanese CHUV strain K47, has been reported. Sequence analysis indicates that PALV strains isolated from different geographical regions show significant diversity, which is mainly shaped by geographically independent evolution and genetic reassortment. Our understanding of the genetic characteristics of PALV is hampered by a very limited genomic sequence database. In this study, we report the complete genome sequence of CHUV strain SZ187, which was isolated for the first time in 2012 in mainland China. Sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis demonstrate that SZ187 is closely related to other CHUV strains isolated in Taiwan and Japan, indicating that they may share a common ancestor. This new full-length CHUV genome sequence could help in the design of broader assays for epidemiological studies and facilitate the identification of new CHUV isolates in the future.