Abstract
Rotaviruses (RVs) are a major cause of viral gastroenteritis in both
animals and humans worldwide. According to the molecular and serological
properties of Viral Protein 6 (VP6), RVs are classified into nine
species or groups (RVA-RVD and RVF-RVJ). RVA, RVB and RVC are
well-recognized as etiological agents of enteric disease on swine farms
and have been identified in all countries with a relevant pork
production. Contrarily, RVH has only been identified on swine farms from
Japan and more recently from Brazil, USA, South Africa and Vietnam but
not yet in Europe. The occurrence of RVH was investigated in 103 Spanish
pig herds. Nine farms were positive and the complete nucleotide
sequences were achieved for four RVH isolates. Mean nucleotide
identities with the RVH sequences available in GenBak ranged between
69.4 and 93.7 %. Phylogenetically, all genomic segments of Spanish RVH
isolates clustered closely with other porcine RVH strains but were
distantly related to human RVH as well as bat RVH strain. Moreover,
based on the available tentative genotyping system for RVH, a new
genotype for VP7 was proposed. To the best of our knowledge this is the
first report of RVH on swine farms in Europe including its
characterization by means of complete genome sequencing.