Molecular characterization, comparative and evolutionary analysis of the recent Orf outbreaks among goats in the Eastern part of India (Odisha)

Abstract

Contagious ecthyma is a zoonotic disease, caused by the Orf virus (ORFV) affecting sheep, goats, and humans and is widely distributed across the world. In this study, we have investigated fifteen recent ORFV outbreaks in Black Bengal goats occurred in the Odisha state of India. The outbreaks were characterized by the high rates of morbidity (reaching up to 100%) without any mortality in the infected goats. Molecular and phylogenetic analysis of four ORFV genes such as ORFV011, ORFV020, ORFV059, and ORFV108 was performed, which revealed that current isolates were closely related to Assam, China, Bangalore, and Meghalaya isolates, respectively, with some unique mutations. Finally, to get an insight into the global ORFV evolution pattern, population genetics parameters such as nucleotide diversity, haplotype diversity, selection pressure, and neutrality among these genes were estimated by comparing the GenBank database. We observed low haplotype as well as nucleotide diversity and purifying selection implying ORFV evolution globally.