First identification and genomic characterization of equine hepacivirus subtype 2 in China

Yuxin Chen; Siqi Cai; Ying Zhang; Zhiying Lai; Lintao Zhong; Xingrong Sun; Shoujun Li; Gang Lu

doi:10.1007/s00705-021-05228-2

First identification and genomic characterization of equine hepacivirus subtype 2 in China

Arch Virol. 2021 Nov;166(11):3221-3224. doi: 10.1007/s00705-021-05228-2. Epub 2021 Sep 13.

Authors

Yuxin Chen^#^{1

2

3}, Siqi Cai^#^{1

2

3}, Ying Zhang⁴, Zhiying Lai^{1

2

3}, Lintao Zhong^{1

2

3}, Xingrong Sun⁵, Shoujun Li^{6

7

8}, Gang Lu^{9

10

11}

Affiliations

¹ College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
² Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
³ Guangdong Technological Engineering Research Center for Pet, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
⁴ College of animal science and technology, Guangdong polytechnic of science and trade, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
⁵ Daqing Branches of Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Daqing, 163316, Heilongjiang Province, People's Republic of China.
⁶ College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong, People's Republic of China. shoujunli@scau.edu.cn.
⁷ Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong, People's Republic of China. shoujunli@scau.edu.cn.
⁸ Guangdong Technological Engineering Research Center for Pet, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong, People's Republic of China. shoujunli@scau.edu.cn.
⁹ College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong, People's Republic of China. LG@scau.edu.cn.
¹⁰ Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong, People's Republic of China. LG@scau.edu.cn.
¹¹ Guangdong Technological Engineering Research Center for Pet, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong, People's Republic of China. LG@scau.edu.cn.

^# Contributed equally.

PMID: 34515865
DOI: 10.1007/s00705-021-05228-2

Abstract

Equine hepacivirus (EqHV) is a newly discovered hepatitis C virus-like virus that can infect equines. EqHV strains circulating worldwide have been classified into subtypes 1-3. In previous studies, we detected the presence of EqHV strains of subtype 1 and 3 in China. To determine whether EqHV strains of subtype 2 are prevalent in China, serum samples were collected from 133 racehorses in Guangdong province in 2021 and were tested for EqHV RNA by RT-PCR, and the positive rate was 9% (12/133). Sequencing of the NS3 gene revealed that one field strain (GD2021) had a high degree of genetic similarity to EqHV strains of subtype 2. Subsequent genome sequencing and analysis demonstrated that strain GD2021 belongs to subtype 2. The present study enriches our knowledge about the genetic diversity of EqHV in China.

MeSH terms

Animals
China / epidemiology
Genome, Viral
Hepacivirus / genetics*
Hepacivirus / isolation & purification
Hepatitis C / epidemiology
Hepatitis C / veterinary*
Hepatitis C / virology
Horse Diseases / epidemiology
Horse Diseases / virology*
Horses
Phylogeny*
Viral Nonstructural Proteins / genetics

Substances

NS3 protein, hepatitis C virus
Viral Nonstructural Proteins

Grants and funding

2017A030310367/Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province