Equine rotavirus a under the one health lens : potential impacts on public health

Group A rotaviruses are a well-known cause of viral gastroenteritis in infants and children, as well as in many mammalian species and birds, affecting them at a young age. This group of viruses has a double-stranded, segmented RNA genome with high genetic diversity linked to point mutations, recombination, and, importantly, reassortment. While initial molecular investigations undertaken in the 1900s suggested host range restriction among group A rotaviruses based on the fact that different gene segments were distributed among different animal species, recent molecular surveillance and genome constellation genotyping studies conducted by the Rotavirus Classification Working Group (RCWG) have shown that animal rotaviruses serve as a source of diversification of human rotavirus A, highlighting their zoonotic potential. Rotaviruses occurring in various animal species have been linked with contributing genetic material to human rotaviruses, including horses, with the most recent identification of equine-like G3 rotavirus A infecting children. The goal of this article is to review relevant information related to rotavirus structure/genomic organization, epidemiology (with a focus on human and equine rotavirus A), evolution, inter-species transmission, and the potential zoonotic role of equine and other animal rotaviruses. Diagnostics, surveillance and the current status of human and livestock vaccines against RVA are also reviewed.

Instituto de Virología

Fil: Carossino, Mariano. Louisiana State University. School of Veterinary Medicine. Department of Pathobiological Sciences; Estados Unidos

Fil: Carossino, Mariano. Louisiana State University. School of Veterinary Medicine. Louisiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory; Estados Unidos

Fil: Vissani, Maria Aldana. Universidad del Salvador. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Veterinarias. Escuela de Veterinaria; Argentina

Fil: Vissani, Maria Aldana. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Virología: Argentina

Fil: Vissani, Maria Aldana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina

Fil: Barrandeguy, Maria Edith. Universidad del Salvador. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Veterinarias. Escuela de Veterinaria; Argentina

Fil: Barrandeguy, Maria Edith. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Virología; Argentina

Fil: Balasuriya, Udeni B. R. Louisiana State University. School of Veterinary Medicine. Department of Pathobiological Sciences; Estados Unidos

Fil: Balasuriya, Udeni B. R. Louisiana State University. School of Veterinary Medicine. Louisiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory; Estados Unidos

Fil: Parreño, Gladys Viviana. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Virología; Argentina

Fil: Parreño, Gladys Viviana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas; Argentina