Isolation and Identification of G8P[1] Bovine Rotavirus A Among Neonatal Diarrheic Calves in Yunnan, China

Bovine rotavirus (BRV) poses a major threat to the global cattle industry, driving significant morbidity and mortality in young calves. In Yunnan Province, China, BRV is the primary cause of neonatal calf diarrhea (NCD), yet the molecular epidemiology of circulating strains remains poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the molecular characteristics of bovine rotavirus strains associated with a severe outbreak of the NCD on a local farm. Fecal samples were collected from 396 calves and screened for BRV by RT-PCR targeting the VP6 gene. Positive samples were subjected to virus isolation in MA104 cells, followed by whole-genome sequencing, phylogenetic analysis, and pathogenicity assessment in suckling mice. Of 396 samples, 85 tested positive for BRV, corresponding to an animal-level prevalence of 21.5% (95% CI: 17.5–25.8%), with four fatalities recorded. A strain designated as BRV-YN1-2021 was successfully isolated, exhibiting characteristic cytopathic effects, specific immunofluorescence, and typical rotavirus morphology by electron microscopy. Genomic analysis revealed the constellation G8-P[1]-I2-R2-C2-M2-A3-N2-T6-E2-H3, identified as genotype G8P[1]. BLAST analysis showed that four genomic segments shared the highest identity with deer rotavirus strains, five with human rotavirus strains, and two with bovine rotavirus strains. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated close relationships with US deer strains, Japanese bovine strains, and human strains circulating in China. Experimental infection in suckling mice induced diarrhea and significant intestinal histopathology, degeneration of villous epithelial cells, goblet cell hyperplasia, and inflammatory infiltration. This study reports the first isolation of a G8P[1] bovine rotavirus from a diarrhea outbreak in Chinese cattle. The multi-host genetic composition provides evidence of interspecies reassortment events, highlighting the zoonotic potential of BRV and emphasizing the need for continuous molecular surveillance to inform effective control strategies.