Nucleotide sequence comparison of the segments S10 of the nine African horsesickness virus serotypes

Segments 10 (S10) of the double-stranded RNA (ds RNA) genomes from African horsesickness virus (AHSV) serotypes 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7 were cloned and sequenced. Direct sequencing of previously reverse transcribed amplified (RT)-PCR segments S10 was also performed. Nucleotide sequences of two strains (the virulent Moroccan strain and a vaccine strain) of the same serotype (4) were determined. Sequences of the viral serotypes were analysed and compared to each other. Two in-phase ATG codons were conserved in the S10 of AHSV-2, AHSV-4, AHSV-5, AHSV-6 and AHSV-7 and were considered candidate translation initiation codons of NS3 and NS3A respectively. A close relationship between serotypes 4, 5 and 9 and between serotypes 3 and 7 were described. Closer relationships of serotype 2 to the 1 and 8 group on one hand and of serotype 6 to the 4, 5 and 9 group on the other hand were observed.