Magic™ Mouse Anti-Astrovirus Capsid monoclonal antibody, clone D12093N

Human astroviruses are associated with gastroenteritis and known to contaminate water environments. Three different genetic clades of astroviruses are known to infect humans and each Glade consists of diverse strains. This study aimed to determine the occurrence and genetic diversity of astrovirus strains in water samples in different geographical locations, i.e., influent and effluent wastewater samples (n = 24 each) in Arizona, U.S., and groundwater (n = 37) and river water (n = 14) samples collected in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, using next-generation amplicon sequencing. Astrovirus strains including rare types (types 6 and 7 classical human astroviruses), emerging type (type 5 VA-astroviruses), and putative recombinants were identified. Feline astrovirus strains were collaterally identified and recombination between human and feline astroviruses was suggested. Classicaland VA-astroviruses seemed to be prevalent during cooler months, while MLB-astroviruses were identified only during warmer months. This study demonstrated the effectiveness of next-generation amplicon sequencing for identification and characterization of genetically diverse astrovirus strains in environmental water.

The aim of the study was to investigate the presence and molecular character of feline astrovirus and feline panleukopenia virus in cats in Erzurum, Turkey. Fifty feces from cats of which 13 with clinical signs and 37 with clinically healthy were analysed using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction for ORF2 gene of astrovirus and VP2 gene of panleukopenia virus. Upon reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, sequence analyses, bioinformatics analyses and phylogeny was performed. Of the cats 8 % (4/50) were positive for FAstV and 10 % (5/50) were positive for FPLV. Stool samples from the astrovirus and panleukopenia virus positive cats were negative for rotavirus and coronavirus. When positive astrovirus amplicons were sequenced, the feline astrovirus strains appeared to be genetically more related to human astroviruses than to porcine, canine, bat, and avian astroviruses. Result of the sequence analysis of the feline panleukopenia virus positive PCR products indicate that it was closely related to Asian strains in the cluster of G1. This study also has shown that the genotypes of the feline panleukopenia virus found in this study were different from previously reported a single study from Turkey and were closely related to European strains. This is the first report on the presence and molecular characterization of FAstV in cats from Turkey. While role of parvovirus in gastroenteritis cases was well known, role of astrovirus is remain unclear in cats.