Genetic characterization of peste des petits ruminants virus, Turkey, 2009-2013

•Based on sequence analysis of the F and N genes only PPRV lineage IV has been present in Turkey.•PPRV does not undergo rapid genetic changes in the F and N genes.•PPRV Nig 75/1 is an effective vaccine strain to protect small ruminants against PPRV lineage IV.

Peste des petits ruminants is an endemic disease of small ruminants in Turkey and vaccination has been the method of control but sporadic outbreaks have been reported. This study was carried out to characterize the local peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) by sequencing fusion (F) protein and nucleoprotein (N) gene segments and phylogenetic analysis, so as to focus on genetic variation in the field viruses. Samples were collected from sheep and goats clinically suspected of having PPRV infection in Central and Mediterranean regions of Turkey during 2009-2013. Phylogenetic analysis based on the F gene sequences showed that the field isolates in the present study belong to lineage 4 with other Middle East isolates. While N gene sequences revealed a different pattern, the field isolates in the present study clustered with previous Turkish isolates, which probably represents the true picture of molecular epidemiology for PPRV.