Pathogenic mechanisms and molecular features of a novel UL2 gene-deficient duck enteritis virus endemic to China

Duck enteritis virus (DEV) was identified as the etiological agent responsible for an outbreak of morbidity and mortality in adult ducks on a farm in Jiangsu, China. Diagnostic approaches confirmed that the outbreak was caused by the highly pathogenic DEV-JS2024 isolate. The clinical progression of...

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Main Authors: Dan Yin, Yuehua Gao, Mingqing Xu, Jianhua Wang, Xiaofei Song, Zhen Li, Jianyun Peng, Min Kang, Bai Wei, Chengdong Yu, Yingjuan Qian, Yong-Sam Jung, Feng Hu, Junfeng Lv, Zhuoming Qin, Yufeng Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-08-01
Series:Virulence
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21505594.2025.2547325
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author Dan Yin
Yuehua Gao
Mingqing Xu
Jianhua Wang
Xiaofei Song
Zhen Li
Jianyun Peng
Min Kang
Bai Wei
Chengdong Yu
Yingjuan Qian
Yong-Sam Jung
Feng Hu
Junfeng Lv
Zhuoming Qin
Yufeng Li
author_facet Dan Yin
Yuehua Gao
Mingqing Xu
Jianhua Wang
Xiaofei Song
Zhen Li
Jianyun Peng
Min Kang
Bai Wei
Chengdong Yu
Yingjuan Qian
Yong-Sam Jung
Feng Hu
Junfeng Lv
Zhuoming Qin
Yufeng Li
author_sort Dan Yin
collection DOAJ
description Duck enteritis virus (DEV) was identified as the etiological agent responsible for an outbreak of morbidity and mortality in adult ducks on a farm in Jiangsu, China. Diagnostic approaches confirmed that the outbreak was caused by the highly pathogenic DEV-JS2024 isolate. The clinical progression of the disease, characterized by lethargy, anorexia, ocular discharge, and high mortality, was accompanied by extensive hemorrhagic lesions in critical organs such as the liver, spleen, lungs, and bursa of Fabricius, consistent with known signs of DEV infection. Genomic analysis of DEV-JS2024 revealed a 45% G+C content and 76 open reading frames. BLASTn analysis revealed that the genome of DEV-JS2024 shares the highest sequence similarity with the Chinese virulent strain CV and the DEV attenuated vaccine strain C-KCE in the database. These results indicate a close genetic relationship between DEV-JS2024 and both the virulent and attenuated strains, suggesting potential similarities in their genomic architecture. Comparative genomic analysis identified 28 nucleotide mutations, including 15 non-synonymous mutations potentially related to virulence factors. The study also highlighted the first reported 528 base pairs deletion in the UL2 gene of a virulent strain, challenging its utility as a marker for distinguishing virulent from attenuated strains. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that DEV-JS2024 May result from recombination between the vaccine and virulent strains, further complicating our understanding of DEV pathogenicity. This study provides new insights into the molecular evolution of DEV and stresses the importance of continued genomic surveillance to enhance vaccine development and control measures for duck plague.
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spelling doaj-art-080b752a238c4ab5b0332d1f7771e5c42025-08-20T03:36:01ZengTaylor & Francis GroupVirulence2150-55942150-56082025-08-0110.1080/21505594.2025.2547325Pathogenic mechanisms and molecular features of a novel UL2 gene-deficient duck enteritis virus endemic to ChinaDan Yin0Yuehua Gao1Mingqing Xu2Jianhua Wang3Xiaofei Song4Zhen Li5Jianyun Peng6Min Kang7Bai Wei8Chengdong Yu9Yingjuan Qian10Yong-Sam Jung11Feng Hu12Junfeng Lv13Zhuoming Qin14Yufeng Li15Institute of Poultry Science, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Breeding, Jinan, ChinaInstitute of Poultry Science, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Breeding, Jinan, ChinaShandong Hekangyuan Biological Breeding Co. Ltd, Jinan, ChinaShandong Hekangyuan Biological Breeding Co. Ltd, Jinan, ChinaQilu Animal Health Products Co. Ltd, Jinan, ChinaQilu Animal Health Products Co. Ltd, Jinan, ChinaQilu Animal Health Products Co. Ltd, Jinan, ChinaDepartment of Avian Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine and Center for Avian Disease, Jeonbuk National University, Iksan, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Avian Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine and Center for Avian Disease, Jeonbuk National University, Iksan, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Avian Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine and Center for Avian Disease, Jeonbuk National University, Iksan, Republic of KoreaLaboratory of Emerging Animal Diseases and One Health, The Sanya Institute of Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, ChinaLaboratory of Emerging Animal Diseases and One Health, The Sanya Institute of Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, ChinaInstitute of Poultry Science, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Breeding, Jinan, ChinaInstitute of Poultry Science, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Breeding, Jinan, ChinaInstitute of Poultry Science, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Breeding, Jinan, ChinaInstitute of Poultry Science, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Breeding, Jinan, ChinaDuck enteritis virus (DEV) was identified as the etiological agent responsible for an outbreak of morbidity and mortality in adult ducks on a farm in Jiangsu, China. Diagnostic approaches confirmed that the outbreak was caused by the highly pathogenic DEV-JS2024 isolate. The clinical progression of the disease, characterized by lethargy, anorexia, ocular discharge, and high mortality, was accompanied by extensive hemorrhagic lesions in critical organs such as the liver, spleen, lungs, and bursa of Fabricius, consistent with known signs of DEV infection. Genomic analysis of DEV-JS2024 revealed a 45% G+C content and 76 open reading frames. BLASTn analysis revealed that the genome of DEV-JS2024 shares the highest sequence similarity with the Chinese virulent strain CV and the DEV attenuated vaccine strain C-KCE in the database. These results indicate a close genetic relationship between DEV-JS2024 and both the virulent and attenuated strains, suggesting potential similarities in their genomic architecture. Comparative genomic analysis identified 28 nucleotide mutations, including 15 non-synonymous mutations potentially related to virulence factors. The study also highlighted the first reported 528 base pairs deletion in the UL2 gene of a virulent strain, challenging its utility as a marker for distinguishing virulent from attenuated strains. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that DEV-JS2024 May result from recombination between the vaccine and virulent strains, further complicating our understanding of DEV pathogenicity. This study provides new insights into the molecular evolution of DEV and stresses the importance of continued genomic surveillance to enhance vaccine development and control measures for duck plague.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21505594.2025.2547325Duck enteritis viruspathogenicitywhole genome sequencingUL2 gene-deficientendemic
spellingShingle Dan Yin
Yuehua Gao
Mingqing Xu
Jianhua Wang
Xiaofei Song
Zhen Li
Jianyun Peng
Min Kang
Bai Wei
Chengdong Yu
Yingjuan Qian
Yong-Sam Jung
Feng Hu
Junfeng Lv
Zhuoming Qin
Yufeng Li
Pathogenic mechanisms and molecular features of a novel UL2 gene-deficient duck enteritis virus endemic to China
Virulence
Duck enteritis virus
pathogenicity
whole genome sequencing
UL2 gene-deficient
endemic
title Pathogenic mechanisms and molecular features of a novel UL2 gene-deficient duck enteritis virus endemic to China
title_full Pathogenic mechanisms and molecular features of a novel UL2 gene-deficient duck enteritis virus endemic to China
title_fullStr Pathogenic mechanisms and molecular features of a novel UL2 gene-deficient duck enteritis virus endemic to China
title_full_unstemmed Pathogenic mechanisms and molecular features of a novel UL2 gene-deficient duck enteritis virus endemic to China
title_short Pathogenic mechanisms and molecular features of a novel UL2 gene-deficient duck enteritis virus endemic to China
title_sort pathogenic mechanisms and molecular features of a novel ul2 gene deficient duck enteritis virus endemic to china
topic Duck enteritis virus
pathogenicity
whole genome sequencing
UL2 gene-deficient
endemic
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21505594.2025.2547325
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