Polymorphism of the migration of double-stranded RNA genome segments of reovirus isolates from humans, cattle, and mice

Abstract

A series of 94 isolates of reovirus from humans, cattle and mice showed extensive variability in the migration patterns of the 10 double-stranded RNA genome segments. This variation was found in all 3 serotypes, and involved all 10 genome segments, including the segment responsible for serological specificity. Although a single pattern was present among several samples isolated from individuals and collected at a single time and place, there were often multiple genetic variants of a single serotype present in a population. Samples isolated from widely different geographic origins or different mammalian hosts showed different patterns; samples from a single species from the same area over a period of time showed more limited variations. Among most isolates, the migration of the slowest S segment, the segment that encodes the hemagglutinin and is responsible for serological specificity in laboratory strains, was similar to reference strains for type 1 and type 3 isolates. The type 2 isolates showed considerable variation in this segment.