Emergence of a novel pathogenic porcine G1P[7] rotavirus in China

Among group A rotaviruses (RVAs), the G1 genotype is the main genotype causing diarrhea in children, but it has rarely been reported in pigs. During our epidemiological investigation, we detected G1P[7] rotavirus infection in piglets across several provinces in China and then isolated a porcine G1P[7] rotavirus strain (CN1P7). Sequencing revealed that the virus constellation was G1-P[7]-I5-R1-C1-M1-A8-N1-T1-E1-H1. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that CN1P7 most likely emerged due to genetic reassortment among porcine, human, giant panda and dog rotavirus strains. In vivo experiments were conducted on two-day-old piglets, which revealed that the CN1P7 strain was pathogenic to piglets. The virus was shed through the digestive tract and respiratory tract. In addition to the intestine, the CN1P7 strain displayed extraintestinal tropisms in piglets. Histopathological analysis revealed that the lung and small intestine were the targets of CN1P7. This study is the first to explore the molecular and pathogenic characterization of a pig-origin G1P[7] rotavirus.