Differences in Ibaraki virus RNA segment 3 sequences from three epidemics

Phylogenetic tree and partial nucleotide sequence analysis of RNA segment 3 were conducted to compare the lbaraki virus (IBAV) strains from three epidemics in Japan, and serotype 2 epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus strains isolated in Australia, Taiwan, and Canada. Each strain was classified relative to the lbaraki disease (IBAD) epidemics, which occurred in 1959-1960, 1987, or 1997-1998. In particular, major variation of the gene was identified in the strains isolated after 1997 when a new type of IBAD with the abnormal birth was confirmed. lbaraki viruses isolated in Japan were more closely related to Taiwanese and Australian strains based on genetics, while the Canadian strain was more distantly related.