Phylogenetic analysis of the glycoprotein gene of viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus from Iranian trout farms points towards a common European origin

- Collection and characterization of VHSV isolates from rainbow trout farms located in the Northern and Southwest provinces of Iran.
- First determination of nearly (1483/1504 nt) complete nucleotide sequences of the VHSV-G gene from Iran.
- Phylogenetic analyses of the G genes demonstrate that Iranian VHSV isolates belong to genotype 1a-2.
- Determination of a close genetic linkage between the Iranian VHSV isolates and Eastern VHSV isolates.

Viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV), a member of family Rhabdoviridae and genus Novirhabdoviridae, causes mortality in numerous marine and freshwater hosts located in northern hemisphere. To evaluate the genetic diversity of VHSV from the North and South West of Iran, the sequences of a 1483 bp nt region of the glycoprotein gene were determined for four Iranian isolates. These sequences were analysed to evaluate their genetic relatedness with 86 worldwide isolates representing the four known genogroups of VHSV. Phylogenetic analysis by nucleotide sequences showed that all the VHSV isolates studied were closest related to the 19 fresh water strains from Germany grouped within the European genogroup Ia-2. This finding indicates that Iranian VHSV most likely was introduced to Iran by the movement of contaminated fish fry from a source in Europe.