Development of a Rotavirus-Shedding Model in Rhesus Macaques, Using a Homologous Wild-Type Rotavirus of a New P Genotype

Abstract

Although there are several reports on rotavirus inoculation of nonhuman primates, no reliable model exists. Therefore, this study was designed to develop a rhesus macaque model for rotavirus studies. The goals were to obtain a wild-type macaque rotavirus and evaluate it as a challenge virus for model studies. Once rotavirus was shown to be endemic within the macaque colony at the Tulane National Primate Research Center, stool specimens were collected from juvenile animals (2.6 to 5.9 months of age) without evidence of previous rotavirus infection and examined for rotavirus antigen. Six of 10 animals shed rotavirus during the 10-week collection period, and the electropherotypes of all isolates were identical to each other but distinct from those of prototype simian rotaviruses. These viruses were characterized as serotype G3 and subgroup 1, properties typical of many animal rotaviruses, including simian strains. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the VP4 gene was performed with a culture-grown isolate from the stool of one animal, designated the TUCH strain. Based on both genotypic and phylogenetic comparisons between TUCH VP4 and cognate proteins of representatives of the reported 22 P genotypes, the TUCH virus belongs to a new genotype, P[23]. A pool of wild-type TUCH was prepared and intragastrically administered to eight cesarean section-derived, specific-pathogen-free macaques 14 to 42 days of age. All animals were kept in a biocontainment level 2 facility. Although no diarrhea was observed and the animals remained clinically normal, all animals shed large quantities of rotavirus antigen in their feces after inoculation, which resolved by the end of the 14-day observation period. Therefore, TUCH infection of macaques provides a useful nonhuman primate model for studies on rotavirus protection.

Whole genome characterization of new bovine rotavirus G21P[29] and G24P[33] strains provides evidence for interspecies transmission

“…Recently, a number of new genotypes have been found in humans and animals (Collins et al, 2010; Lamhoujeb et al, 2010;Martella et al, 2006Martella et al, , 2007Matthijnssens et al, 2009Matthijnssens et al, , 2010aMcNeal et al, 2005;Parra et al, 2007;Rahman et al, 2005; Schumann et al, 2009; Solberg et al, 2009;Ursu et al, 2009). However, the genetic background of most strains has remained to be identified.…”

Human, porcine and bovine rotaviruses in Slovenia: evidence of interspecies transmission and genome reassortment

“…As both epitopes are important for host immunity, eliciting neutralizing antibodies, a dual classification system for rotaviruses is used. To date at least 15 G and 27 P genotypes have been characterized using molecular techniques (Estes, 2001;Hoshino et al, 2002;Khamrin et al, 2007;Liprandi et al, 2003;Martella et al, 2003Martella et al, , 2006aMartella et al, , 2007McNeal et al, 2005;Rahman et al, 2005;Rao et al, 2000;Steyer et al, 2007a). Some of these genotypes have been found only in certain animal species or in humans and appear to be host-restricted.…”

Multiple Combinations of P[13]-Like Genotype with G3, G4, and G5 in Porcine Rotaviruses

“…To date, at least 15 G genotypes and 26 P genotypes have been identified from humans and a variety of animal species (5,22,26,28,30,35,36). Most recently, several groups of investigators have proposed a novel genotype, P[27], which was isolated from diarrheic piglets (18,25,38).…”