Kunić Valentina, Barbić Ljubo, Šimić Jakob, Mikuletič Tina, Kogoj Rok, Koritnik Tom, Steyer Andrej, Konjević Dean, Bujanić Miljenko, Prišlin Šimac Marina, Brnić Dragan
Virology Department, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb, Croatia.
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
Sci Total Environ. 2025 Sep 10;994:180010. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.180010. Epub 2025 Jul 10.
Rotavirus A (RVA) is a major cause of non-bacterial gastroenteritis in mammals and birds, with sporadic zoonotic events. Despite well-documented interspecies transmission of porcine-originated RVA strains (poRVAs), the role of wildlife in transmission dynamics remains underexplored. Using a One Health spatiotemporal approach, this study investigated the genetic interconnectedness of poRVAs in domestic pigs and wildlife in Croatia (2018-2021). Fecal samples or rectal swabs from 445 domestic pigs, 441 wild boars, 533 red foxes, and 131 golden jackals underwent RNA extraction, RT-PCR, VP7/VP4 genotyping, and Sanger sequencing. From these, nineteen samples carrying poRVA genotypes in wildlife and matching genotypes in domestic pigs were selected for the NGS and complete RVA genome analysis. Results revealed porcine genogroup 1 constellation, with surface protein genotypes characteristic of porcine hosts in all detected RVA strains. Wildlife-derived poRVAs proved evolutionary related to domestic pig-derived strains, verifying previously hypothesized interspecies transmission. Among VP7 genotypes, G3 dominated in wildlife, G5 in domestic pigs, and G4 showed zoonotic potential. In VP4, P[13] was the most prevalent, while P[23] and P[6] exhibited recombination events. Mixed-genotype RVAs appeared only in domestic pigs encompassing VP7, VP4, and NSP4 gene segments. This study provides insights into RVA host diversity, presenting the first complete RVA genome data from golden jackals and the second from red foxes globally. In addition, it presents the first complete RVA genomes from wild boars outside of Asia to date. Wildlife-derived RVAs showed evolutionary links to domestic pig strains, including zoonotic strains, highlighting the role of wildlife in RVA dissemination. These findings emphasize the need for expanded animal RVA surveillance to better understand environmental transmission, zoonotic risks, and control strategies within a One Health framework.
A组轮状病毒（RVA）是哺乳动物和鸟类非细菌性肠胃炎的主要病因，存在偶发的人畜共患病事件。尽管猪源RVA毒株（poRVA）的种间传播已有充分记录，但野生动物在传播动态中的作用仍未得到充分研究。本研究采用“同一个健康”时空方法，调查了克罗地亚（2018 - 2021年）家猪和野生动物中poRVA的遗传关联性。对445头家猪、441头野猪、533只赤狐和131只金豺的粪便样本或直肠拭子进行了RNA提取、逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）、VP7/VP4基因分型和桑格测序。从中选取了19份携带野生动物中poRVA基因型且与家猪中匹配基因型的样本进行二代测序（NGS）和完整RVA基因组分析。结果显示为猪基因组1型组合，所有检测到的RVA毒株中表面蛋白基因型具有猪宿主特征。野生动物源poRVA被证明与家猪源毒株存在进化关系，证实了先前假设的种间传播。在VP7基因型中，G3在野生动物中占主导，G5在家猪中占主导，G4显示出人畜共患病潜力。在VP4中，P[13]最为普遍，而P[23]和P[6]表现出重组事件。混合基因型RVA仅在家猪中出现，涉及VP7、VP4和NSP4基因片段。本研究深入了解了RVA宿主多样性，呈现了全球首个金豺的完整RVA基因组数据以及第二个赤狐的完整RVA基因组数据。此外，它还呈现了迄今为止亚洲以外野猪的首个完整RVA基因组。野生动物源RVA显示出与家猪毒株包括人畜共患病毒株的进化联系，突出了野生动物在RVA传播中的作用。这些发现强调了在“同一个健康”框架内扩大动物RVA监测以更好地了解环境传播、人畜共患病风险和控制策略的必要性。
