Genetic Characterization of Small Ruminant Lentiviruses (SRLVs) Circulating in Naturally Infected Sheep in Central Italy
Small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLVs) represent a very heterogeneous group of ss-RNA viruses that infect sheep and goats worldwide. They cause important, deleterious effects on animal production and limit the animal trade. SRLVs show a high genetic variability due to high mutation rate and frequent re...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-03-01
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| Series: | Viruses |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/14/4/686 |
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| author | Chiara Arcangeli Martina Torricelli Carla Sebastiani Daniele Lucarelli Marcella Ciullo Fabrizio Passamonti Monica Giammarioli Massimo Biagetti |
| author_facet | Chiara Arcangeli Martina Torricelli Carla Sebastiani Daniele Lucarelli Marcella Ciullo Fabrizio Passamonti Monica Giammarioli Massimo Biagetti |
| author_sort | Chiara Arcangeli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLVs) represent a very heterogeneous group of ss-RNA viruses that infect sheep and goats worldwide. They cause important, deleterious effects on animal production and limit the animal trade. SRLVs show a high genetic variability due to high mutation rate and frequent recombination events. Indeed, five genotypes (A–E) and several subtypes have been detected. The aim of this work was to genetically characterize SRLVs circulating in central Italy. On this basis, a phylogenetic study on the <i>gag-pol</i> genetic region of 133 sheep, collected from 19 naturally infected flocks, was conducted. In addition, to evaluate the frequency of mutation and the selective pressure on this region, a WebLogo 3 analysis was performed, and the dN/dS ratio was computed. The results showed that 26 samples out of 133 were clustered in genotype A and 106 samples belonged to genotype B, as follows: A9 (<i>n</i> = 8), A11 (<i>n</i> = 10), A24 (<i>n</i> = 7), B1 (<i>n</i> = 2), B2 (<i>n</i> = 59), and B3 (<i>n</i> = 45). No recombination events were found. Mutations were localized mainly in the VR-2 region, and the dN/dS ratio of 0.028 indicated the existence of purifying selection. Since the genetic diversity of SRLVs could make serological identification difficult, it is important to perform molecular characterization to ensure a more reliable diagnosis, to maintain flock health status, and for the application of local and national control programs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:08:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8782af374104418784daf392f04e11bb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4915 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:08:48Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Viruses |
| spelling | doaj.art-8782af374104418784daf392f04e11bb2023-12-03T14:03:01ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152022-03-0114468610.3390/v14040686Genetic Characterization of Small Ruminant Lentiviruses (SRLVs) Circulating in Naturally Infected Sheep in Central ItalyChiara Arcangeli0Martina Torricelli1Carla Sebastiani2Daniele Lucarelli3Marcella Ciullo4Fabrizio Passamonti5Monica Giammarioli6Massimo Biagetti7Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Umbria e delle Marche “Togo Rosati”, 06126 Perugia, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Umbria e delle Marche “Togo Rosati”, 06126 Perugia, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Umbria e delle Marche “Togo Rosati”, 06126 Perugia, ItalyTranslaTUM Center for Translational Cancer Research, Technical University of Munich, 81675 Munich, GermanyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Umbria e delle Marche “Togo Rosati”, 06126 Perugia, ItalyDipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Perugia, 06126 Perugia, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Umbria e delle Marche “Togo Rosati”, 06126 Perugia, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Umbria e delle Marche “Togo Rosati”, 06126 Perugia, ItalySmall ruminant lentiviruses (SRLVs) represent a very heterogeneous group of ss-RNA viruses that infect sheep and goats worldwide. They cause important, deleterious effects on animal production and limit the animal trade. SRLVs show a high genetic variability due to high mutation rate and frequent recombination events. Indeed, five genotypes (A–E) and several subtypes have been detected. The aim of this work was to genetically characterize SRLVs circulating in central Italy. On this basis, a phylogenetic study on the <i>gag-pol</i> genetic region of 133 sheep, collected from 19 naturally infected flocks, was conducted. In addition, to evaluate the frequency of mutation and the selective pressure on this region, a WebLogo 3 analysis was performed, and the dN/dS ratio was computed. The results showed that 26 samples out of 133 were clustered in genotype A and 106 samples belonged to genotype B, as follows: A9 (<i>n</i> = 8), A11 (<i>n</i> = 10), A24 (<i>n</i> = 7), B1 (<i>n</i> = 2), B2 (<i>n</i> = 59), and B3 (<i>n</i> = 45). No recombination events were found. Mutations were localized mainly in the VR-2 region, and the dN/dS ratio of 0.028 indicated the existence of purifying selection. Since the genetic diversity of SRLVs could make serological identification difficult, it is important to perform molecular characterization to ensure a more reliable diagnosis, to maintain flock health status, and for the application of local and national control programs.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/14/4/686small ruminant lentivirus (SRLV)phylogenetic analysissheepgenotypespairwise distanceWebLogo analysis |
| spellingShingle | Chiara Arcangeli Martina Torricelli Carla Sebastiani Daniele Lucarelli Marcella Ciullo Fabrizio Passamonti Monica Giammarioli Massimo Biagetti Genetic Characterization of Small Ruminant Lentiviruses (SRLVs) Circulating in Naturally Infected Sheep in Central Italy Viruses small ruminant lentivirus (SRLV) phylogenetic analysis sheep genotypes pairwise distance WebLogo analysis |
| title | Genetic Characterization of Small Ruminant Lentiviruses (SRLVs) Circulating in Naturally Infected Sheep in Central Italy |
| title_full | Genetic Characterization of Small Ruminant Lentiviruses (SRLVs) Circulating in Naturally Infected Sheep in Central Italy |
| title_fullStr | Genetic Characterization of Small Ruminant Lentiviruses (SRLVs) Circulating in Naturally Infected Sheep in Central Italy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genetic Characterization of Small Ruminant Lentiviruses (SRLVs) Circulating in Naturally Infected Sheep in Central Italy |
| title_short | Genetic Characterization of Small Ruminant Lentiviruses (SRLVs) Circulating in Naturally Infected Sheep in Central Italy |
| title_sort | genetic characterization of small ruminant lentiviruses srlvs circulating in naturally infected sheep in central italy |
| topic | small ruminant lentivirus (SRLV) phylogenetic analysis sheep genotypes pairwise distance WebLogo analysis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/14/4/686 |
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