Molecular characteristics and pathogenicity analysis of infectious laryngotracheitis virus isolated in China from 2015 to 2019

Xuehui Zhang; Lihua Tang; Linqing Duan; Ruihua Yang; Kangchengyin Liu; Jing Zhao; Ye Zhao; Guozhong Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.psj.2024.104751

Molecular characteristics and pathogenicity analysis of infectious laryngotracheitis virus isolated in China from 2015 to 2019

Poult Sci. 2024 Dec 31;104(2):104751. doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2024.104751. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Xuehui Zhang¹, Lihua Tang¹, Linqing Duan², Ruihua Yang³, Kangchengyin Liu¹, Jing Zhao¹, Ye Zhao⁴, Guozhong Zhang⁵

Affiliations

¹ National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health Security, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
² Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
³ National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health Security, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
⁴ Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁵ National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health Security, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 39754926
DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2024.104751

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular characteristics and pathogenicity of recently isolated ILTV strains from China, thereby augmenting our understanding of its prevalence. The complete genome sequences of seven ILTV strains obtained from China between 2015 and 2019 were determined by high-throughput sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis showed that six isolates (SD2015, GD2017, SYB2018, HB201812, HB201806, and TJ2019) were classified together with CEO vaccine strains, while only one isolates LN2018 belonged to the wild-type cluster. Recombination analysis revealed compelling evidence of probable recombination events existing in SD2015, HB201806, and LN2018. Compared to TJ2019 and LN2018, chickens infected with HB201806 exhibited more severe conjunctivitis symptoms and tracheal damage, as well as higher viral load and viral shedding in the trachea. These findings will provide valuable references for further understanding the epidemiological status of ILTV and developing effective control measures.

Keywords: Complete genome sequencing; Infectious laryngotracheitis virus; Pathogenicity assessment; Phylogenetic analysis.