Genetic Characterization of Avian Rotavirus A From Japanese Pigeons

Rotavirus A infects many animal species, including humans, and causes severe diarrhea and acute gastrointestinal diseases. This virus also infects various bird species including pigeons; however, information on avian rotavirus A (ARVA) infection in pigeon populations in Japan is limited. Here, we retrospectively report the genetic characterization based on whole-genome sequences of two Japanese ARVA isolates from pigeons in 2012. The isolates were obtained by inoculation into primary chicken kidney cell cultures and subsequently subjected to near-complete genome sequencing using an NGS system. The genotype constellation of the two ARVA isolates was G18-P[17]-I4-R4-C4-M4-A4-N4-T4-E19-H4, which were identical to those derived from several pigeons. Genetic analysis based on each segment revealed that the genomic sequences of all 11 genes from these ARVAs are closely related to those of ARVAs from foreign countries such as Germany, Italy, or China rather than those of the Japanese ARVAs in previous reports. These data suggest an ancestor common to the ARVA analyzed in this study might be distributed and maintained worldwide. This information will help researchers better understand the evolution and epidemiology of ARVA in feral birds.