Molecular Characterization and Whole Genome Analysis of Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis Virus (IPNV) Isolates Obtained From Turkey

Since the first recognition in North America, 1941, Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis Virus (IPNV) have been detected in many countries including Turkey, as a result of international trade. Sicnificant economic loss primarily occurs in fishes less than six months age. The causative agent belongs to the genus Aquabirnavirus of the family Birnaviridae and is a non-enveloped virus with a 60 nm icosahedral structure and a bi-segmented double stranded RNA genome. Segment A which codes VP2, VP3, VP4 and VP5 while segment B encodes VP1, an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. The objective of this study was to investigate whole genome properties of IPNV isolated from six different regions of Turkey (Duzce, Sanliurfa, Tokat, K. Maras, Trabzon and Gaziantep) between 2004 and 2013. Phylogenetic analysis of whole genomic data showed that six isolates were clustered with genogroup 5, and group 1, based on segment A and Segment B data, respectively. Moreover, several substitutions in VP2 hypervariable region associates with low virulence and point mutations in the VP5 coding sequence were detected. This research may provide valuable information on the characterization of IPNV isolates circulating different geographical area of Turkey