Analysis of serological variability and hierarchical distribution of rice yellow mottle sobemovirus isolates in northern Nigeria

A panel of four monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) was used to study the immunological profile of Rice yellow mottle virus (RYMV) genus Sobemovirus. Serological profiles of 35 representative isolates of RYMV from Borno, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Niger, Sokoto and Zamfara states in Northern Nigeria. All the RYMV isolates were classified into three major serogroups (SG1, SG2 and SG3) and further separated into six subgroups (Sg1a, Sg1b, Sg2a, Sg2b, Sg3a and Sg3b). The results demonstrate a significant serological variability among RYMV isolates in Northern Nigeria. The hierarchical analysis of the serological profiles data revealed high viral load in Kano, Kaduna and Gombe states, these show they are suitable locations for strategic RYMV diagnostic and field epidemiological studies