Complete genome sequencing of human and animal Group A rotavirus strains reveals striking genetic heterogeneity and frequent interspecies transmission and adaptation.
Genomic sequencing highlights the frequent interspecies transmission and adaptation between human and animal rotaviruses.
Rotaviruses are important enteric pathogens of humans and animals. Group A rotaviruses (GARVs) account for up to 1 million children deaths each year, chiefly in developing countries and human vaccines are now available in many countries. Rotavirus-associated enteritis is a major problem in livestock animals, notably in young calves and piglets. Early in the epidemiological GARV studies in humans, either sporadic cases or epidemics by atypical, animal-like GARV strains were described. Complete genome sequencing of human and animal GARV strains has revealed a striking genetic heterogeneity in the 11 double stranded RNA segments across different rotavirus strains and has provided evidence for frequent intersections between the evolution of human and animal rotaviruses, as a result of multiple, repeated events of interspecies transmission and subsequent adaptation.
Martella et al. (2009) conducted a review in Rotavirus infection. Complete genome sequencing of human and animal Group A rotavirus strains reveals striking genetic heterogeneity and frequent interspecies transmission and adaptation.