Detection and Genetic Characterization of Astroviruses in Brain Tissues of Wild Raccoon Dogs

Viruses. 2023 Jun 30;15(7):1488. doi: 10.3390/v15071488.

Abstract

Astroviruses (AstVs) have been detected in a wide range of animal species, including mammals and birds. Recently, a novel AstV associated with neurological symptoms has been detected in the brains of some mammals. Raccoon dog AstV has been reported recently in China. However, there have been no reports in South Korea. Therefore, the present study aimed to detect and genetically characterize AstVs in the intestine and brain tissues of 133 wild raccoon dogs collected in Korea between 2017 and 2019. Of the seven raccoon dogs, AstVs were detected in six intestinal tissues and four brain tissues. Analysis of the capsid protein amino acid sequences of raccoon dog AstVs detected in Korea revealed a high similarity to canine AstVs, suggesting possible interspecies transmission between raccoon dogs and dogs. Phylogenetic and capsid protein amino acid sequence analysis of raccoon dog AstVs detected in the brain the 17-148B strain belonging to the HMO clade and exhibiting conserved sequences found in neurotropic AstVs (NT-AstVs), indicating their potential as NT-AstVs. However, the pathogenicity and transmission routes of the raccoon dog AstV detected in Korea have not yet been elucidated, so further research and continued surveillance for AstV in wild raccoon dogs are needed.

Keywords: astrovirus; neurotropic-astrovirus; wild raccoon dog.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Astroviridae Infections*
  • Astroviridae* / genetics
  • Capsid Proteins / genetics
  • Dogs
  • Phylogeny
  • Raccoon Dogs

Substances

  • Capsid Proteins

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the National Institute of Wildlife Disease Control and Prevention as “Specialized Graduate School Support Project for Wildlife Disease Specialists”. This research was also supported by a grant (2019R1A6A1A03033084) from the Basic Science Research Program of the National Research Foundation (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education, Republic of Korea.