Molecular Characterization and Phylogenetic Analysis of Field Isolates of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus Serotype A from Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

The rapid response to the economically important livestock diseases is greatly aided by the surveillance for the circulating etiological agent. Among these, foot-and-mouth disease in India is considered an important disease caused by Apthovirus of picornaviridae family. Continuous studies on the genetic and antigenic characterization of the circulating FMDV serotypes are absolutely essential due to the high mutation rate of the virus. The present study was conducted to determine the molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis of a FMDV serotype A circulating in the western Uttar Pradesh through partial sequencing of VP1 gene. Vesicular epithelium samples were collected from different outbreaks of FMD and processed for extraction of viral RNA and RT-PCR. DNA sequence analysis was performed and phylogenetic tree was constructed to determine the phylogenetic relationship. Out of 25 tongue epithelium samples analyzed, the amplicons (1301 bp and 865 bp) could be amplified from 20 tongue epithelium (12 FMD serotype O and 8 FMD serotype A). Sequence and phylogenetic analyses of partial 1D gene of two FMDV serotype A samples showed the genetic variation from the previously reported FMDV in India. In conclusion, there is need of continuous monitoring of FMDV mutations and evaluation of the FMD vaccines strains currently used in India to avoid the recurrence of FMDV outbreaks.