Molecular Characterization and Sequence Analysis of VP1 Gene of Duckling Short Beak and Dwarfism Syndrome Isolated In Egypt During 2023

Ali Saleh, Amani; M.S. El-Nagar, Eman; Sayed, Mohamed I

doi:10.21608/ejvs.2024.271025.1858

Molecular Characterization and Sequence Analysis of VP1 Gene of Duckling Short Beak and Dwarfism Syndrome Isolated In Egypt During 2023

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Veterinary Serum and Vaccine Research Institute (VSVRI), Agricultural Research Center (ARC), Cairo, 11381, Egypt.

² Genetic Engineering Research Department, Veterinary Serum and Vaccine Research Institute (VSVRI), Agricultural Research Center (ARC). Cairo, 11381, Egypt.

10.21608/ejvs.2024.271025.1858

Abstract

Goose Parvovirus (GPV) is a highly infectious disease of water fowls causing short beak and dwarfism syndrome (SBDS).The importance of the GPV resides in its ability to transmit horizontal, vertical and also through contamination of eggs hatchery. The appearance of the virus in Egypt and all over the world is still mysterious and not well understood. The current study aims at assessment of the current epidemic situation of GPV through isolation and molecular characterization of the capsid protein VP1 gene and comparative computational assessment of the antigenic structure between the recently isolated strains in 2023 and the strain isolated during 2018 epidemics that used for preparation of the local monovalent vaccine. Molecular analysis revealed that there 100 % homology between the local isolates of 2023 while the isolate of 2018 shares 98.1% homology with those isolated in 2023. Comparative sequence analysis of VP1 gene between 2023 and 2018 isolates revealed that there were 16 SNPs, 3 of them are nonsynonymous SNPs that lead to codon shift in the significantly important predicted antigenic domains of VP1 protein. The first codon shift occurs at residue number 28 from (alanine) in 2018 isolate to (serine) in 2023 isolates this lead to change in the antigenic structure at this portion, the second change occurs at residue number 217 to be aspartate in the local isolate of 2018 while being serine in the isolates of 2023, the 3rd codon difference is at residue 265 which is serine in the local isolate of 2018 and is aspartate in the local isolates of 2023. On the other hand the isolates of 2023 epidemics are typically the same at the molecular level and antigenic structures even though they have been isolated from different locations ;Gharbia governorates in the north of Egypt and Beni Suef in the upper Egypt which indicates that the isolate of 2023 is the most prevailing GPV during this period, so it is recommended to update the current prepared monovalent vaccine with bivalent vaccine that include both the isolates of 2018 and 2023 for better protection against GPV in Egypt and to make continuous monitoring of the current circulating viruses to make better assessment of the current epidemic status in Egypt for continuous vaccine update to cope with the existing field epidemic status.

Keywords