ARS | Publication request: PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS OF RUMINANT RHADINOVIRUSES

Submitted to: Satellite Workshop for Veterinary Herpesviruses
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: June 20, 2002
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Seven new rhadinoviruses were identified in a variety of ruminants, namely domestic sheep, goats, bighorn sheep, bison, oryx, black-tailed deer and elk, which represent a second distinct subgroup. No association with disease has yet been found for this subgroup. The genetic relationships of these viruses were evaluated by sequencing the respective amplicons yielded by PCR amplification of peripheral blood leukocyte DNA using 2 different primer sets. One pair were panherpesvirus-specific degenerate primers targeting a portion of the viral DNA polymerase gene, and the other pair directed amplification of a conserved portion of the viral glycoprotein B gene. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the currently known ruminant rhadinoviruses appear to comprise three distinct genetic lineages: 1) the MCF-subgroup, defined by sequence homology and the presence of the 15A antigenic epitope; 2) a second distinct subgroup, devoid of 15A epitope, which contains the previously reported bovine lymphotropic herpesvirus; and 3) a third distinct subgroup represented by bovine herpesvirus-4 (BoHV-4). In order to facilitate communication about these agents until taxonomy and nomenclature are more clearly defined, we proposed to tentatively designate these three ruminant rhadinovirus branches as ruminant rhadinovirus type 1 (the MCF-subgroup), type 2 (the non-MCF-subgroup), and type 3 (BoHV-4), respectively.