Kobuvirus

Kobuvirus is a viral genus belonging to the family Picornaviridae.

The genus is composed of three species, Aichivirus A (formerly Aichi virus), Aichivirus B (formerly Bovine kobuvirus) and Aichivirus C (formerly Porcine kobuvirus) each possessing a single serotype. Canine kobuvirus belong to species Aichivirus A.^[1] Aichi virus infects humans,^[2][3] while bovine kobuvirus,^[4] porcine kobuvirus^[5][6] and canine kobuvirus, as suggested by their names, infects cattle, swine, dogs and cats.

Recently a novel caprine kobuvirus was characterised after isolation from a Korean black goat. ^[7]

Virus particles

The molecular mass of a typical virion particle of this genus is typically eight to nine million. The virions of the viruses in this genus consist of capsids that are 27 to 30 nm in diameter (1). The capsid is described as being round and displaying icosahedral symmetry. The capsid is believed to consist of 12 capsomers and the capsid shell structure of these virions has a monolayer composition (1). Using conventional electron microscopy, the structure of the capsid surface can be visualised (1,2). The virus particles contain a single species of ssRNA. These virions have a sedimentation coefficient of 140-165 S20w. The particles are described to be “relatively stable” in vitro (in comparison to other viruses) and stable in acidic conditions of pH 3.5 (2). They have also been found to be insensitive to treatment with some chemicals including chloroform, ether and non-ionic detergents (2).

Genetics

The viruses in this genus have single-stranded, linear non-segmented, positive-sense RNA genomes with lengths of approximately 8.2-8.3 kb (2,3).

References

1. ↑ Carmona-Vicente N et al (2013). Phylogeny and prevalence of kobuviruses in dogs and cats in the UK. Vet Microbiol Feb 26
2. ↑ Yamashita, T et al (1991) Isolation of cytopathic small round viruses with BS-C-1 cells from patients with gastroenteritis. J Infect Dis 164:954–957
3. ↑ Yamashita, T et al (1998) Complete nucleotide sequence and genetic organization of Aichi virus, a distinct member of the Picornaviridae associated with acute gastroenteritis in humans. J Virol 72:8408-8412
4. ↑ Yamashita, T et al (2003) Isolation and characterization of a new species of kobuvirus associated with cattle. J Gen Virol 84:3069-3077
5. ↑ Reuter, G et al (2008) Candidate new species of kobuvirus in porcine host. Emerg Infect Dis 14:1968-1970
6. ↑ Reuter, G. et al (2009) Complete nucleotide and amino acid sequences and genetic organization of porcine kobuvirus, a member of a new species in the genus Kobuvirus, family Picornaviridae. Arch Virol 154:101-108
7. ↑ Oem JK et al (2014) Novel Kobuvirus species identified from black goat with diarrhea. Vet Microbiol. 172:563-7

External links

• Viralzone: Kobuvirus