Isolation, Genomic Characterization and Evolution of Six Porcine Rotavirus A Strains in a Pig Farming Group.

Simple Summary: Porcine rotavirus re-emerged in recent years in China. In this study, we analyzed the genomic characterizations of six porcine rotavirus. A strains (PoRVA) isolated from three sow farms in a company at different sampling periods, and in detail dissected their evolutionary relationship. Our results showed transmission and recombination happened frequently within and between pig farms under the same production system. More importantly, several gene segments of isolates came from human rotavirus strains, suggesting the potential cross–species infection between humans and pigs. Our findings provide insights into the transmission and evolution of porcine rotavirus (PoRV) between farms and enrich the molecular epidemiological data of porcine rotavirus in China. Porcine rotavirus (PoRV) is a significant enteric pathogen causing gastroenteritis in piglets, which causes huge economic loss to the Chinese pig industry. In this study, six porcine rotavirus A strains were isolated from three adjacent sow farms belonging to the same company within one year, which suffered severe diarrhea outbreaks. AHBZ2303 (G11P[7]) and AHBZ2305 (G9P[23]), AHBZ2304 (G9P[23]) and AHBZ2312 (G4P[6]), AHBZ2310 (G9P[23]) and AHBZ2402 (G5P[23]) were isolated from Farm A, B and C, respectively. All six isolates were related to human rotavirus through complete genome analysis, suggesting the potential cross–species infection between humans and pigs. Evolutionary analysis revealed that AHBZ2303 and AHBZ2304 likely emerged simultaneously in Farm A and B, and then AHBZ2304 was introduced to Farm A and C, leading to the emergence of AHBZ2305 and AHBZ2310. Recombination and large variation were identified for AHBZ2312 and AHBZ2402. These findings provided insights into the transmission and evolution of PoRV among farms and underscored the need for enhanced monitoring to mitigate the risk of outbreaks from novel variants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]