Reassortment of Human and Animal Rotavirus Gene Segments in Emerging DS-1-Like G1P[8] Rotavirus Strains.
Authors: Komoto Satoshi, Tacharoenmuang Ratana, Guntapong Ratigorn, Ide Tomihiko, Tsuji Takao, Yoshikawa Tetsushi, Tharmaphornpilas Piyanit, Sangkitporn Somchai, Taniguchi Koki
Journal: PloS one
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Emerging DS-1-Like Reassortant Rotaviruses in Asia Novel rotavirus strains combining genetic material from both human and animal sources have recently emerged across Asia, raising concerns about viral evolution and disease burden in paediatric populations. Researchers in Thailand conducted whole-genome sequencing of three unusual rotavirus isolates recovered from hospitalised children with acute gastroenteritis, analysing their genetic composition and evolutionary origins through phylogenetic comparison. All three strains—two carrying G3P[8] genotypes and one G2P[8]—shared a common backbone of DS-1-like genes interspersed with genetic segments originating from equine and bovine rotaviruses, indicating multiple reassortment events between species. The G3P[8] strains possessed nine of eleven genes derived from the emerging DS-1-like G1P[8] lineage, whilst their surface proteins originated from animal sources; the G2P[8] strain represented an even more complex mosaic, incorporating elements from locally circulating human strains, DS-1-like G1P[8] viruses, and bovine rotaviruses. For equine professionals and veterinarians monitoring zoonotic disease risk, these findings underscore the importance of cross-species surveillance, as the reassortment patterns suggest that animal rotavirus reservoirs—particularly cattle and horses—may serve as ongoing sources of genetic diversity that could generate novel human pathogens with unpredictable epidemiological characteristics.
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Practical Takeaways
- •This is a molecular virology study with no direct clinical application to equine or bovine practitioners; it documents zoonotic rotavirus reassortment patterns relevant to public health surveillance in humans
- •The identification of equine and bovine rotavirus gene segments in human strains highlights the potential for cross-species transmission, though clinical significance for animal health remains unclear from this study
- •Practitioners should be aware that emerging human rotavirus strains may have animal origins, supporting continued surveillance and biosecurity protocols where animal-human contact occurs
Key Findings
- •Three novel DS-1-like intergenogroup reassortant rotavirus strains (G3P[8], G3P[8], and G2P[8]) were identified in Thai children with acute gastroenteritis
- •Nine of 11 genes in strains SKT-281 and SKT-289 originated from DS-1-like G1P[8] strains, with VP7 and NSP4 genes derived from equine and bovine rotaviruses respectively
- •Strain LS-04 showed multiple reassortment patterns with genes from DS-1-like G1P[8], locally circulating G2P[4], and bovine-origin rotaviruses
- •Genomic reassortment between human and animal rotavirus strains appears to be generating emerging DS-1-like strain diversity in Asia