TY - JOUR
T1 - Full genome characterization of a Kenyan G8P[14] rotavirus strain suggests artiodactyl-to-human zoonotic transmission
AU - Wandera, Ernest Apondi
AU - Akari, Yuki
AU - Sang, Carlene
AU - Njugu, Pamela
AU - Khamadi, Samoel Ashimosi
AU - Musundi, Sebastian
AU - Mutua, Maurine Mumo
AU - Fukuda, Saori
AU - Murata, Takayuki
AU - Inoue, Shingo
AU - Kaneko, Satoshi
AU - Nyangao, James
AU - Komoto, Satoshi
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2025.
PY - 2025/12
Y1 - 2025/12
N2 - Background: Rotavirus infections are a major cause of severe gastroenteritis in children. Human rotavirus strains with the unconventional G8P[14] genotype have sporadically been detected in diarrheic patients in different parts of the world. However, full genomes of only two human G8P[14] strains from Africa (North Africa) have been sequenced, and the origin and evolutionary patterns of African G8P[14] strains remain to be elucidated. Methods: In this study, we sequenced the full genome of an African G8P[14] strain (RVA/Human-wt/KEN/A75/2000/G8P[14]) identified in archival stool samples from a diarrheic child in Kenya. Results: Full genome-based analysis of strain A75 revealed a unique genogroup constellation, G8-P[14]-I2-R2-C2-M2-A11-N2-T6-E2-H3, with the I2-R2-C2-M2-A11-N2-T6-E2-H3 part being common among rotavirus strains from artiodactyls such as cattle. Phylogenetic analysis showed that all the 11 genomic segments of strain A75 are closely related to segments found in artiodactyl rotavirus strains, and likely strain A75 derived from spillover transmission of an artiodactyl rotavirus strain to humans. Conclusion: This is the first report on a full genome-based characterization of a human G8P[14] strain from East Africa. This study demonstrates the diversity of human G8P[14] strains in Africa and contributes to the elucidation of their spreading and evolution, which includes zoonotic transmission from artiodactyls.
AB - Background: Rotavirus infections are a major cause of severe gastroenteritis in children. Human rotavirus strains with the unconventional G8P[14] genotype have sporadically been detected in diarrheic patients in different parts of the world. However, full genomes of only two human G8P[14] strains from Africa (North Africa) have been sequenced, and the origin and evolutionary patterns of African G8P[14] strains remain to be elucidated. Methods: In this study, we sequenced the full genome of an African G8P[14] strain (RVA/Human-wt/KEN/A75/2000/G8P[14]) identified in archival stool samples from a diarrheic child in Kenya. Results: Full genome-based analysis of strain A75 revealed a unique genogroup constellation, G8-P[14]-I2-R2-C2-M2-A11-N2-T6-E2-H3, with the I2-R2-C2-M2-A11-N2-T6-E2-H3 part being common among rotavirus strains from artiodactyls such as cattle. Phylogenetic analysis showed that all the 11 genomic segments of strain A75 are closely related to segments found in artiodactyl rotavirus strains, and likely strain A75 derived from spillover transmission of an artiodactyl rotavirus strain to humans. Conclusion: This is the first report on a full genome-based characterization of a human G8P[14] strain from East Africa. This study demonstrates the diversity of human G8P[14] strains in Africa and contributes to the elucidation of their spreading and evolution, which includes zoonotic transmission from artiodactyls.
KW - Africa
KW - Artiodactyls
KW - Full genome-based analysis
KW - G8P[14] strains
KW - Group A rotavirus
KW - Interspecies transmission
KW - Kenya
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U2 - 10.1186/s41182-025-00759-9
DO - 10.1186/s41182-025-00759-9
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:105008239200
SN - 1348-8945
VL - 53
JO - Tropical Medicine and Health
JF - Tropical Medicine and Health
IS - 1
M1 - 82
ER -
