COMPARATIVE NUCLEOTIDE AND DEDUCED AMINO-ACID-SEQUENCE ANALYSIS OF VP7 GENE OF THE NCDV CODY (I-801) STRAIN OF GROUP-A BOVINE ROTAVIRUS - BRIEF REPORT

The prevalent G serotypes of group A bovine rotavirus (BRV) reported a re G6, G10, and less commonly, G8. Neonatal Calf Diarrhea Virus (NCDV) , Lincoln and Cody strains were first isolated from diarrheic calves i n Nebraska. The NCDV Lincoln strain is the currently used U.S. vaccine strain and has a G6 serotype. In this study, the complete nucleotide sequence of the VP7 gene of NCDV Cody (I-801 strain) was determined us ing the primer extension method. The VP7 gene nucleotide sequence hom ologies between Cody I-801 and established G8 rotaviruses, A5 (Thailan d BRV), 678 (UK BRV), B37 (human RV) and 69M (human RV) were 84.7%, 86 .4%, 84.7% and 85.9%, respectively. The deduced VP7 amino acid sequenc e of Cody I-801 was similar to that of A5, 678, B37 and 69M (93.6%, 95 .7%, 92.6% and 95.1%, respectively). The VP7 gene nucleic acid sequenc e homologies between NCDV Cody (I-801) and NCDV Lincoln or B223 (G10) was 76.2% and the deduced VP7 amino acid sequence homologies between C ody I-801 and NCDV Lincoln or B223 were 82.5% and 81.3%, respectively. Thus, our sequence data suggests that the VP7 gene of Cody I-801 stra in of BRV is genetically most similar to G8 rotaviruses and unrelated to the NCDV Lincoln G6 rotavirus strain.