Encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) is a natural epidemic zoonotic pathogen. However, no reports have been published regarding the isolation, identification and full-length genome of EMCV from a local aardvark population. In present study, an EMCV isolate HNXX13 was isolated from aardvarks named Huainan-pig in Henan Province. The systematic identification, full-length genome sequencing and molecular characteristic analysis of the isolate HNXX13 were conducted. The result showed that the isolate was spherical with a diameter of 24-30 nm, neither heat- nor acid-resistant, sensitive to trypsin, insensitive to chloroform, not protected by bivalent cationic, and the specific fluorescence was observed in the cytoplasm of BHK-21 cells infected with the isolate by using indirect fluorescence assay. The full-length genome of EMCV HNXX13 generated a 7 725bp sequence (GenBank: F771002), with 81.0%-99.9% nucleotide identity to reference strains from different animals, and 99.5% with a Chinese reference strain isolated earlier from a commercial pig herd. The phylogenetic tree based on the full-length genome and ORF sequences identified that all EMCV strains were divided into three groups G1, G2 and G3, and strain HNXX13 belonging to the G1 group with other Chinese reference strains. The result also identified that this EMCV infection could cause severe clinical signs in a local aardvark population, and enriches the molecular epidemiological data of EMCV in China. Regional differences exist in EMCV genome and transmission is limited within a certain area. However, the cross-infection and transmission of EMCV between aardvark and mice appears most likely. Mutations have occurred in some amino acids of EMCV strain HNXX13 during the transmission in local aardvark herd and these mutations might make the virus easier to infect the aardvark.
Animals ; Animals, Wild ; virology ; Cardiovirus Infections ; veterinary ; virology ; China ; Encephalomyocarditis virus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Genome, Viral ; Mice ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Xenarthra ; virology

Genome-wide association study (GWAS) is a powerful tool for identifying the genetic causes of various diseases. This study was conducted to identify genomic variation in Maltese dog genomes associated with degenerative mitral valve disease (DMVD) development and to evaluate the association of each biological condition with DMVD in Maltese dogs. DNA was extracted from blood samples obtained from 48 Maltese dogs (32 with DMVD and 16 controls). Genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping was performed. The top 30 SNPs from each association of various conditions and genetic variations were mapped to their gene locations. A total of 173,662 loci were successfully genotyped, with an overall genotype completion rate of 99.41%. Quality control analysis excluded 46,610 of these SNPs. Manhattan plots were produced using allelic tests with various candidate clinical conditions. A significant peak of association was observed between mitral valve prolapse (MVP) and SNPs on chromosome 17. The present study revealed significant SNPs in several genes associated with cardiac function, including PDZ2, Armadillo repeat protein detected in velo-cardio-facial syndrome, catenin (cadherin-associated protein) alpha 3, low-density lipoprotein receptor class A domain containing protein 4, and sterile alpha motif domain containing protein 3. To our knowledge, this is the first study of a genetic predisposition to DMVD in Maltese dogs. Although only a limited number of cases were analyzed, these data could be the basis for further research on the genetic predisposition to MVP and DMVD in Maltese dogs.
Animals ; Armadillos ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17 ; DiGeorge Syndrome ; DNA ; Dogs ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genetic Variation ; Genome ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Genotype ; Mitral Valve Prolapse ; Mitral Valve ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Quality Control ; Receptors, Lipoprotein