Equine arteritis virus: A new isolate from the presumable first carrier stallion in Argentina and its genetic relationships among the four reported unique Argentinean strains

Equine arteritis virus (EAV) was isolated from a testicle of the presumable first stallion infected with EAV in Argentina. This virus isolate (named LT-LP-ARG) was confirmed by GP5-specific PCR and indirect immunofluorescence assays. The PCR product was sequenced, and the phylogenetic analysis revealed that the LT-LP-ARG strain of EAV forms a monophyletic group, together with other strains previously isolated in our laboratory (LP02 group). However, all Argentinean EAV strains belong to a polyphyletic group. We believe that the virus isolate presented in this report could be the origin of EAV infection in our country. © 2008 Springer-Verlag.Fil: Metz, German Ernesto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Serena, Maria Soledad. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Ocampos, Giselle Martín. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Panei, Carlos Javier. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Fernandez, Verónica L.. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Echeverría, María G.. Instituto de Genética Veterinaria Ingeniero Fernando Noel Dulout (conicet- Universidad Nacional de la Plata); Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; Argentin