Identification and characterization of a novel alpaca respiratory coronavirus most closely related to the human coronavirus 229E

Viruses. 2012 Dec 12;4(12):3689-700. doi: 10.3390/v4123689.

Abstract

In 2007, a novel coronavirus associated with an acute respiratory disease in alpacas (Alpaca Coronavirus, ACoV) was isolated. Full-length genomic sequencing of the ACoV demonstrated the genome to be consistent with other Alphacoronaviruses. A putative additional open-reading frame was identified between the nucleocapsid gene and 3'UTR. The ACoV was genetically most similar to the common human coronavirus (HCoV) 229E with 92.2% nucleotide identity over the entire genome. A comparison of spike gene sequences from ACoV and from HCoV-229E isolates recovered over a span of five decades showed the ACoV to be most similar to viruses isolated in the 1960's to early 1980's. The true origin of the ACoV is unknown, however a common ancestor between the ACoV and HCoV-229E appears to have existed prior to the 1960's, suggesting virus transmission, either as a zoonosis or anthroponosis, has occurred between alpacas and humans.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Camelids, New World / virology*
  • Coronavirus / genetics*
  • Coronavirus / isolation & purification
  • Coronavirus Infections / veterinary*
  • Coronavirus Infections / virology
  • Forensic Anthropology
  • Genome, Viral*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phylogeny
  • RNA, Viral / genetics*
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / veterinary*
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / virology
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA*
  • Sequence Homology
  • Viral Proteins / genetics

Substances

  • RNA, Viral
  • Viral Proteins

Associated data

  • GENBANK/JQ410000