Phylogenetics of Foot and Mouth Disease Virus in Punjab, Pakistan
British Journal of Virology
Phylogenetics of Foot and Mouth Disease Virus in Punjab, Pakistan
Sehrish Kanwal1, Ali Saeed1*, Muhammad Munir2, Memoona Arshad1
ABSTRACT
Foot and mouth disease (FMD) remained an endemic disease in Pakistani livestock population during 2011 and 2012. To ascertain the genetic nature of circulating FMD virus, samples were collected from suspected outbreaks in Southern Punjab. The virus was primarily detected with RT-PCR with P1/P2 and 1F/1R universal primer pairs directly from field samples including tissues, vesicle and secretion. The direct sequencing and subsequent analysis of amplified PCR products for VP1 gene indicated the circulation of serotype O of FMD in studied areas. Moreover, using serotype-specific primers (SA(F)/SA(R)) which target the VP1 gene, serotype O was confirmed in all representative samples. As high as 98% nucleotide sequences similarity was determined between the representative strains. Furthermore, these strains have shown homology with previously characterized strains from Pakistan (O/PAK Lahore), Afghanistan, Iran, India, Nepal and Bhutan. Phylogenetically, these strains clustered into PanAsian II lineage of FMD O serotype along with previously characterized strains of Pakistan. The network analysis of complete VP1 gene nucleotide sequence with other sixty PanAsian II isolates demonstrated central node with Nepal-2003, Bhutan-2004, Pakistani, Afghani and Iranian isolates. The O/PAK Lahore vaccine was at two mutations from central node, while HE647819 and HE647820 were clustered into a separate single taxon at eightieth (80) mutations from central node. Taken together, these findings highlight the continuous circulation of serotype O of FMD in the region.
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