Phylogenetic analysis of sheepox virus isolates based on P32 gene in Iraq
Shehbaz HA and Hassan IQ
The present study was conducted to diagnose sheeppox virus (SPPV) by PCR with phylogenetic analysis of 12 positive local skin isolates of SPPV and vaccinal strains in Al-Diwaniya, Iraq. Result revealed that the expected amplicons size 515 bp of SPPV was detected in 36 samples (36%) of skin lesions. Number of base substitutions per site between sequences was shown. The identity score of P32 of ten positive local isolates was 98-100% with Pox vac and Iraq Kandi Sheeppox vaccines. However with NCBI-BLAST Sheeppox virus (MF289491.1), Goatpox virus (KJ026556.1) and Lumpy skin virus (KX960778.1),was 95-100%. Phylogenetic tree analysis based on the partial P32 showed that all samples tested were closely related in sequence alignment with NCBI-BLAST capripoxviruses: sheeppox virus envelope protein P32 gene (MF289491.1), four sheeppox virus isolates of Sulaimani Governorate, Iraq and two strains of Al-Hassa, Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, (LSDV (KX960778.1) and Tunisian sheeppox virus (KT964235.1) were out of tree.