Characterization of a zoonotic rotavirus strain isolated from diarrheic rabbits

Abstract Children and multiple species of domestic animals are susceptible to infection of group A rotaviruses (RVAs) that causes acute gastroenteritis. We isolated an RVA (Z3171) from diarrheic rabbits and characterized its whole-length genome and pathogenicity in rabbits. The genotype constellation of Z3171 was as follows: G3; P[22]; I2; R3; C3; M3; A9; N2; T1; E3; H3,which is different from the constellation observed in previously characterized LRV strains. The result showed that the NSP3 gene of Z3171 belonged to the T1 genotype and shared 96.2% nucleotide identities with other T1 human strain LL4260 circulating in the regions. However the genome of Z3171 differed substantially from that of the other rabbit rotavirus strains, N5 and Rab1404, in terms of both gene content and gene sequence, particularly the NSP5 gene. Our study shows a reassortment event between human and rabbit rotavirus strains, or there may be undetermined gene clusters circulating in the rabbit population. The isolated strain can cause diarrhea in Belgian rabbits in animal regression test. The infection rate was 100%, and the incidence rate was 80%. Further, we report the detection of G3P[22] RVA strain in rabbits from China for the first time.