Characteristics of pigeon paramyxovirus serotype-1 isolates (PPMV-1) from the Russian Federation from 2001 to 2009.

Monitoring programs for highly dangerous avian diseases in the Russian Federation from 2001 to 2009 detected 77 samples that were PCR positive for avian paramyxovirus serotype-1 (APMV-1) from sick or dead feral and domestic pigeons. Nucleotide sequences of the fusion (F) gene, including a nucleotide sequence encoding the F protein cleavage site, were determined for these isolates. All of the studied isolates possessed virulent F0 protein cleavage sites (112KRKKRF117, 112RRQKRF117, or 112KRQKRF117). Intracerebral pathogenicity index (ICPI) values determined for seven of the isolates exceeded the value of 0.7 (the range from 0.8 to 1.41). Based on partial genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis, the isolates were assigned to two individual sublineages within class II genotype VIb. It was determined that most of these Newcastle disease virus isolates (70/77) recovered from the pigeons belonged to a relatively poorly studied sublineage VIb/2. The complete nucleotide sequence of the genome for the Pigeon/Russia/Vladimir/687/05 isolate of sublineage VIb/2 was determined.

Genetic diversity of Mycoplasma gallisepticum field isolates using partial sequencing of the pvpA gene fragment in Russia.

The genetic diversity of the pvpA gene of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) samples originating from commercial chickens was investigated. In the present study, we evaluated the genetic variability of 26 field samples of MG detected in commercial chickens and turkeys from 18 regions of Russia and compared them to the reference strains of MG available in GenBank. Genetic variability was evaluated by partial nucleotide sequencing of the pvpA gene, which encodes a putative cytadhesin protein. Comparisons with MG strains and isolates from the United States, Australia, China, and Iran using sequence analysis of PCR products showed that Russian MG field samples clustered more closely to each other than to the international reference MG strains. The MG pvpA sequences were found to be highly variable with a discrimination index of 0.975 for Russian field samples. No apparent cluster was found using the criteria of year or location of detection. DNA sequence polymorphism and size variation in the pvpA gene were shown among the Russian MG field samples and could be used for MG typing. These findings might help better understand the relationship among MG isolates from Russia and other countries.

[Phylogenetic analysis of swine fever virus strains]. / Filogeneticheskii analiz shtammov virusa chumy plotoiadnykh.

Amplification of H-gene fragment in combination with cDNA nucleotide sequencing can be used for indication and strain differentiation of classical swine fever virus.