Detection and molecular characterization of the first Group A rotavirus from vicugna

BADARACCO A., ROMERO S., MALACARI D., MARIN R., SETTI W., VEGA C, RODRIGUEZ D., GARAICOECHEA L., PARRENO V

Hamilton Island

Congreso; Tenth International Symposium on Double-Stranded RNA Viruses; 2009

Group A rotaviruses ?RV? are a major cause of neonatal diarrhea in human infants and numerous animal species, worldwide. They comprise a genus within the family Reoviridae characterized by non-enveloped triple-layered viral particles with a viral genome composed by 11 segments of double-stranded RNA ?dsRNA?. Based on the genetic and antigenic variation of the two outer capsid proteins VP7 and VP4, RVs have been classified into G and P-types. Previous serologic survey conducted by our group of research in Argentinean Camelids showed a high antibody prevalence to RV, suggesting a broad circulation of this pathogen among the different species of camelids living in Argentina ?Llama, guanaco and vicugna?. In addition, our laboratory reported the first isolation of two strains of Group A RV G8P[1] y G8P[14] in newborn guanacos. The aim of this study was to investigate the circulation of Group A RV in llamas and vicugnas from the Argentinean Andean Puna. A total of 108 faecal samples from llama and vigcuna tekes from the province of Jujuy, were screened for the presence of RV antigen by an in-house ELISA and confirmed by a commercial ELISA ?Pathfinder, BioRad?. Two samples from vicugna were positive for Group A RV, by ELISA. The results were confirmed by RT-PCR and virus isolation in tissue culture was carried out. The vicugna RV was classified as G8 genotype and the phylogenetic analysis indicate it was closely related to the RV found in guanacos from Patagonia. In our knowlodge this is the first report of the detection and characterization of RV in vicugnas.