China Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Medicine ›› 2025, Vol. 52 ›› Issue (9): 4284-4290.doi: 10.16431/j.cnki.1671-7236.2025.09.026

• Preventive Veterinary Medicine • Previous Articles    

Comparison of Biological Properties of Duck Hepatitis A Virus Genotype 3 Attenuated Strain and Its Reversion Strain

HU Xiaoyang1,2, HUANG Jingjing1,2, PENG Duo1,2, ZHANG Dabing1,2   

  1. 1. National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China;
    2. Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonoses of Ministry of Agriculture and Rual Affairs, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
  • Received:2025-02-27 Published:2025-08-29

Abstract: 【Objective】 The experiment was to explore the mechanism of virulence reversion of Duck hepatitis A virus genotype 3 (DHAV-3) attenuated strain.The biological characteristics of the DHAV-3 attenuated strain and its revertant strain were compared through ducklings experiments and genomic sequence analysis. 【Method】 One-day-old Pekin ducklings were inoculated with DHAV-3 attenuated strain Y140,derived by 140 passages of isolate YDF in chicken embryos,and its revertant strain Y140/4R,derived by 4 passages in duckings,and monitored for clinical signs,gross lesions,morbidity and mortality.Viral RNA levels in liver,kidney and serum of ducklings were measured by Real-time quantitative PCR.Sequencing and analysis were conducted on the genomic sequences of the Y140 strain and the first to fourth passage viruses of Y140 to explore the molecular mechanisms related to virulence reactivation. 【Result】 Ducklings inoculated with Y140 strain showed no clinical symptoms or pathological changes.Ducklings inoculated with Y140/4R strain presented the characteristic clinical symptoms and gross lesions of duck viral hepatitis,and the mortality was 40%.Compared with Y140 strain,the viral RNA levels in liver and kidney of surviving ducks 3 days after infection with Y140/4R strain were significantly increased (P<0.05),and the viral RNA levels in liver and kidney of dead ducks 2-3 days after infection were extremely significantly increased (P<0.01).2-4 days after infection,the viremia level produced by Y140/4R strain was significantly higher than that of Y140 strain (P<0.05). The genomic sequencing results showed that starting from the second generation,mutations I149V,V236I and A25G occurred in 2C protein,3D protein and 3'-UTR,respectively.Starting from the third generation,the E202D mutation occurred in VP1 protein. 【Conclusion】 Passage of duckings could drive mutations in the genome of DHAV-3 attenuated strain,leading to the emergence of virulence variants and significantly enhancing the replication ability of virus in target organs and the ability to form viremia.

Key words: Duck hepatitis A virus genotype 3 (DHAV-3); attenuated strain; reversion to virulence; replication; viremia

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