Genetic heterogeneity in human G6P[14] rotavirus strains detected in Hungary suggests independent zoonotic origin

Accumulation of point mutations and reassortment of cognate genome segments are the main forces driving the evolution of group A rotaviruses that continuously re-model the genetic pools of circulating rotaviruses. Genetic reassortment between human and heterologous strains is also believed to be an important mechanism enabling animal-like rotavirus neutralization antigens, which are novel for humans, to be incorporated onto the genetic backbone of human rotavirus strains. Emergence of such animal–human reassortants has substantially re-drawn the global map of strain prevalence of medically important rotavirus strains since the late 1990s. 1 Gentsch J.R. Laird A.R. Bielfelt B. Griffin D.D. Banyai K. Ramachandran M. et al. Serotype diversity and reassortment between human and animal rotavirus strains: implications for rotavirus vaccine programs. J Infect Dis. 2005; 192: S146-S159 Crossref PubMed Scopus (521) Google Scholar , 2 Matthijnssens J. Rahman M. Ciarlet M. Van Ranst M. Emerging human rotavirus genotypes. in: Palombo E.A. Kirkwood C.D. Viruses in the environment. Research Signpost, Trivandrum, India2008: 171-219 Google Scholar In contrast, zoonotic strains are rarely detected and are thought to be a minor contributor to the overall disease burden due to their low transmissibility among humans. Examples include sporadic human cases associated with zoonotic infection with lapine, canine/feline and suspected ovine strains. 3 Matthijnssens J. Rahman M. Martella V. Xuelei Y. De Vos S. De Leener K. et al. Full genomic analysis of human rotavirus strain B4106 and lapine rotavirus strain 30/96 provides evidence for interspecies transmission. J Virol. 2006; 80: 3801-3810 Crossref PubMed Scopus (193) Google Scholar , 4 Tsugawa T. Hoshino Y. Whole genome sequence and phylogenetic analyses reveal human rotavirus G3P[3] strains Ro1845 and HCR3A are examples of direct virion transmission of canine/feline rotaviruses to humans. Virology. 2008; 380: 344-353 Crossref PubMed Scopus (109) Google Scholar , 5 Matthijnssens J. Potgieter C.A. Ciarlet M. Parreño V. Martella V. Bányai K. et al. Are human P[14] rotavirus strains the result of interspecies transmissions from sheep or other ungulates that belong to the mammalian order Artiodactyla?. J Virol. 2009; 83: 2917-2929 Crossref PubMed Scopus (189) Google Scholar These latter include a handful of the uncommon G6P[14] human rotavirus strains, which have been detected in Europe and Australia. 5 Matthijnssens J. Potgieter C.A. Ciarlet M. Parreño V. Martella V. Bányai K. et al. Are human P[14] rotavirus strains the result of interspecies transmissions from sheep or other ungulates that belong to the mammalian order Artiodactyla?. J Virol. 2009; 83: 2917-2929 Crossref PubMed Scopus (189) Google Scholar