Molecular Characterizations of Sheeppox Virus Strains

Sheeppox and goatpox viruses cause infections in sheep and goats characterized by pyrexia, generalized or local pox lesions, and lymphadenopathy. The sheeppox virus, goatpox virus and lumpy skin disease virus are ordered in the Capripoxvirus genus of Poxviridae family. The aim of this study was to assess the genomic relationships of vaccine strains Bakırköy strain and Kenya0240 strain and of other reference strains. To show the genomic relationships, LD116 gene region coding the viral P32 protein and CD47 gene region from membrane protein genes were chosen. The DNA sequences and as references DNA sequences of the genes of the sheeppox, goatpox and lumpy skin disease viruses obtained from the NCBI Gene Bank were analyzed in DNASTAR gene analysis program using the Clustal W analysis method to determine their differences as to nucleotides and aminoacids. For phylogenetic relationships between the viruses and similarity indices the Neighbor-Joining method was used. The sequence analysis of both gene regions showed that Bakırköy strain belonged to the group where there was only sheeppox virus (Lineage I) and that Kenya0240 strain belonged to the group of the other viruses (Lineage II). Potential vaccine strains protecting not only against sheeppox and goatpox, but also against the lumpy skin disease is significantly important in eradicating the disease.