A reassortant G3P[12] rotavirus A strain associated with severe enteritis in donkeys (Equus asinus).
Authors: Dong Jianbao, Liu Guiqin, Gao Nannan, Suo Jiajia, Matthijnssens Jelle, Li Shuguang, Yuan Dongfang, Du Yan, Zhang Jun, Yamashita Nanako, Haga Takeshi, Cook Frank R, Zhu Wei
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary Rotavirus A has long been suspected as a cause of neonatal diarrhoea in donkeys, yet remained largely uncharacterised at the molecular level despite clear evidence of infection in foals; this study identified and genotypically characterised a reassortant G3P[12] rotavirus strain isolated from a donkey with severe enteritis, filling a significant gap in our understanding of rotaviral disease across equine species. Using reverse transcription PCR and phylogenetic analysis, the researchers sequenced the viral genome and determined the genotype combination, demonstrating that this strain represents a novel reassortant genotype not previously documented in equines. The G3P[12] genotype differed notably from the G3P[6] strains commonly associated with horses, suggesting distinct epidemiological patterns and potentially different virulence characteristics between host species. For equine practitioners managing neonatal diarrhoea in donkey foals, this molecular characterisation provides essential baseline data for developing species-specific diagnostic protocols and understanding rotavirus epidemiology in donkey populations, whilst highlighting the critical need for further surveillance to establish prevalence, risk factors, and the clinical significance of different rotavirus genotypes in donkeys relative to horses.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Consider rotavirus as a potential differential diagnosis in neonatal donkeys presenting with severe enteritis, though it appears less common than in horses
- •Molecular characterization and typing of rotavirus strains in donkey populations should inform vaccination and biosecurity protocols specific to donkey operations
- •Further epidemiological surveillance is needed to establish the true prevalence and significance of rotavirus in donkey foal populations
Key Findings
- •A reassortant G3P[12] rotavirus A strain was identified in donkeys with severe enteritis, representing the first molecular characterization of RVA in donkey populations
- •Only 1 of 82 symptomatic donkey foals tested positive for rotavirus antigen by ELISA, suggesting RVA detection is uncommon in clinical donkey enteritis cases
- •This represents the first comprehensive investigation of rotavirus molecular characteristics in donkeys, previously limited to single antigen detection studies