Genomic characterization of a new tembusu flavivirus from domestic ducks in Thailand

Abstract

Tembusu virus (TMUV) namely KPS54A61 has spread in duck farms in many provinces in Thailand since 2010. The morbidity ranges from 15-30% and the mortality ranges from 10-15%. All infected ducks exhibit nervous signs including ataxia and paralysis. TMUV was successfully isolated from the brain and spinal cord of infected ducks by using C6/36 and Vero cells, but the typical cytopathic effect (CPE) was presented in the Vero cells only. Phylogenetic analysis of the whole genomic sequence of our TMUV-KPS54A61 virus showed that it belonged to the Ntaya virus group of Flaviviridae and its genomic sequence was similar to that of Baiyangdian virus (strain BYD-1, isolated from infected ducks in China) with 98% identity. This is the first report of whole genomic sequence of TMUV isolated from domestic ducks in Thailand.