In this study, the complete genome sequences of seven equine group A rotavirus (RVA) strains (RVA/Horse-tc/GBR/L338/1991/G13P [18] [12] from South Africa) were determined. Multiple novel genotypes were identified and genotype numbers were assigned by the Rotavirus Classification Working Group: R9 (VP1), C9 (VP2), N9 (NSP2), T12 (NSP3), E14 (NSP4), and H7 and H11 (NSP5). The genotype constellation of L338 was unique: G13-P[18]-I6-R9-C9-M6-A6-N9-T12-E14-H11. The six remaining equine RVA strains showed a largely conserved genotype constellation: G3/G14-P[12]-I2/I6-R2-C2-M3-A10-N2-T3-E2/E12-H7, which is highly divergent from other known non-equine RVA genotype constellations. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that the sequences of these equine RVA strains are related distantly to nonequine RVA strains, and that at least three lineages exist within equine RVA strains. A small number of reassortment events were observed. Interestingly, the three RVA strains from Argentina possessed the E12 genotype, whereas the three RVA strains from Ireland and South Africa possessed the E2 genotype. The unusual E12 genotype has until now only been described in Argentina among RVA strains collected from guanaco, cattle and horses, suggesting geographical isolation of this NSP4 genotype. This conserved genetic configuration of equine RVA strains could be useful for future vaccine development or improvement of currently used equine RVA vaccines. INTRODUCTIONEquine group A rotavirus (RVA) strains were first detected in diarrhoeic foals in England in 1975(Flewett et al., 1975 and are a major cause of dehydrating diarrhoea in young 3Present address: Deltamune (Pty) Ltd, 248 Jean Avenue, Lyttelton, Centurion, 0140, South Africa.The GenBank/EMBL/DDBJ accession numbers for the equine rotavirus strains described in this study are JF712555-JF712565, JF712566-JF712576, JF712577-JF712587, JN872865-JN872875, JQ345489-JQ345499 and JN903507-JN903528. foals (Browning & Begg, 1996;Frederick et al., 2009; Imagawa et al., 1991;Saif et al., 1994). Serological data from Japan, the USA and France suggest that RVA is a ubiquitous pathogen in horse populations (Conner & Darlington, 1980;Imagawa et al., 1982;Pearson et al., 1982;Takahashi et al., 1979).RVA strains are icosahedral, non-enveloped viruses possessing a genome of 11 segments of dsRNA. The two outer capsid proteins, VP7 and VP4, elicit neutralizing antibodies independently and are used to differentiate RVA strains into G-types (glycoprotein) and P-types (proteasesensitive), respectively (Ciarlet & Estes, 2002 (Browning et al., 1991a). L338 was shown to possess the unique G13 and P[18] genotypes and a highly divergent NSP1 gene sequence, and to be distinct from other human and animal RVA strains by using RNA-RNA hybridization assays (Browning et al., 1991a; Iša & Snodgrass, 1994;Kojima et al., 1996;Taniguchi et al., 1994;Wu et al., 1993). In addition, a limited number of porcine-, bovineand feline-like RVA strains have been detected in horses. Examples include the G5P [7] RVA strain RVA/Horse-tc/ ...

Bovine coronavirus (BCoV) is an important viral pathogen associated with neonatal calf diarrhea. Our aim was to investigate the incidence of BCoV in diarrhea outbreaks in beef and dairy herds from Argentina during 1994-2010. A total of 5.365 fecal samples from diarrheic calves were screened for BCoV diagnosis by ELISA. The virus was detected in 1.71% (92/5365) of the samples corresponding to 5.95% (63/1058) of the diarrhea cases in 239 beef and 324 dairy farms. The detection rate of BCoV was significantly higher in dairy than in beef herds: 12.13% (29/239) vs. 4.32% (14/324) respectively. Phylogenetic analysis of the hypervariable S1 region of seven representative samples (from different husbandry systems, farm locations and years of sampling) indicated that BCoV strains circulating in Argentinean beef and dairy herds formed a cluster distinct from other geographical regions. Interestingly, Argentinean strains are distantly related (at both the nucleotide and amino acid levels) with the Mebus historic reference BCoV strain included in the vaccines currently available in Argentina. However, Mebus-induced antibodies were capable of neutralizing the BCoV Arg95, a field strain adapted to grow in vitro, and vice versa, indicating that both strains belong to the same CoV serotype reported in cattle. This work represents the first large survey describing BCoV circulation in Argentinean cattle.

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Group A rotavirus (RVA) is one of the main causes of neonatal calf diarrhea worldwide. RVA strains affecting Argentinean cattle mainly possess combinations of the G6, G10, P[5] and P[11] genotypes. To determine RVA diversity among Argentinean cattle, representative bovine RVA strains detected in diarrheic calves were selected from a survey conducted during 1997-2009. The survey covered the main livestock regions of the country from dairy and beef herds. Different phylogenetic approaches were used to investigate the genetic evolution of RVA strains belonging to the prevalent genotypes. The nucleotide phylogenetic tree showed that all genotypes studied could be divided into several lineages. Argentinean bovine RVA strains were distributed across multiple lineages and most of them were distinct from the lineage containing the vaccine strains. Only the aminoacid phylogenetic tree of G6 RVA strains maintained the same lineages as observed at the nucleotide level, whereas a different clustering pattern was observed for the aminoacid phylogenetic trees of G10, P[5] and P[11] suggesting that the strains are more closely related at the aminoacid level than G6 strains. Association between P[5] and G6(IV), prevalent in beef herd, and between P[11] and G6(III) or G10 (VI and V), prevalent in dairy herds, were found. In addition, Argentinean G6(III), G10, P[5] and P[11] bovine RVA strains grouped together with human strains, highlighting their potential for zoonotic transmission. Phylogenetic studies of RVA circulating in animals raised for consumption and in close contact with humans, such as cattle, contribute to a better understanding of the epidemiology of the RVA infection and evolution.