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ARS Home » Plains Area » Manhattan, Kansas » Center for Grain and Animal Health Research » ABADRU » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #308112
Title: Genetic characterization of epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus strains isolated from cattle in Israel

Author
item Wilson, William - Bill
item Ruder, Mark
item KLEMENT, E - Hebrew University
item Jasperson, Dane
item YADIN, H - Kimron Veterinary Institute
item STALLKNECHT, DAVID - University Of Georgia
item MEAD, DANIEL - University Of Georgia
item HOWERTH, E - University Of Georgia

Submitted to: Journal of General Virology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/13/2015
Publication Date: 6/1/2015
Citation: Wilson, W.C., Ruder, M.G., Klement, E., Jasperson, D.C., Yadin, H., Stallknecht, D.E., Mead, D.G., Howerth, E. 2015. Genetic characterization of epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus strains isolated from cattle in Israel. Journal of General Virology. 96:1400-1410. doi:10.1099/vir.0.000089.

Interpretive Summary: A bluetongue-like disease reported in Israeli Cattle was found to be associated with Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease Virus (EHDV). EHDV had not been previously reported in Israel. Genetic analysis was done to determine the potential origin of this virus. The virus genetics was related to those from Africa and Mediterranean region. This finding also supports the hypothesis that EHDV entered Israel during 2006 and was not present there before this outbreak.

Technical Abstract: Epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV), an Orbivirus not previously reported in Israel, was isolated from Israeli cattle during a “bluetongue like” disease outbreak in 2006. To ascertain the origin of this new virus, three isolates from the outbreak were fully sequenced and compared with available sequences. While the L2 gene segment clustered with the Australian EHDV serotype 7 (EHDV-7) reference strain, most of the other segments were clustered with EHDV isolates of African/Middle East origin specifically, Bahrain, Nigeria and South Africa. The M6 gene had genetic relatedness to the Australian/Asian strains but with the limited data available the significance of this relationship is unclear. Only one EHDV-7 L2 sequence is available and since this gene encodes the serotype specific epitope, the relationship of these EHDV-7 L2 genes to an Australian EHDV-7 reflects the serotype association, not necessarily the origin. The genetic data indicates that the strains affecting Israel in 2006 may have been related to similar outbreaks that occurred in North Africa that same year. This finding also supports the hypothesis that EHDV entered Israel during 2006 and was not present there before this outbreak.