Molecular characterization of three newly recognized rat parvoviruses.

Rodent parvoviruses have been documented to interfere with both in vivo and in vitro research. In this study, three rat parvoviruses distinct from previously characterized rodent parvoviruses were identified from naturally infected rats obtained from four discrete sources. These three newly recognized parvoviruses were designated rat minute virus (RMV)-1a, -1b and -1c. In this study, the genomic nucleotide sequence and the predicted amino acid sequences of proteins for each of the three RMV-1 variants and Kilham rat virus (KRV) were determined and compared with previously characterized rodent parvoviruses. The three RMV-1 variants were shown to be closely related to each other, to be distinct from but closely related to KRV and H-1 virus, and to be significantly different from the previously identified rat parvovirus isolate, RPV-1a.