ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Microbiol.
Sec. Virology
Genomic characterization and evolution analysis of peste des petits ruminants virus in China from 2007 to 2024
Provisionally accepted
Jingyue Bao1*
Ruiying Jiang2Shujuan Wang1Qinghua Wang1
Jiao Xu1Yunling Zhao1Yutian Liu1
Lin Li1Xiaohua Wang1Zhiliang Wang1- 1China Animal Health and Epidemiology Center, Qingdao, China
- 2Northeast Forestry University College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Harbin, China
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Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a lethal contagious disease mainly affecting sheep, goats and wild small ruminants. Genomic characterization and evolutionary analysis of the circulating PPR virus (PPRV) strains will provide valuable information for the implementation of efficient control measures. In this study, we generated 28 novel PPRV full-length genome sequences from clinical samples collected in 28 PPR outbreaks in livestock and wildlife hosts in 15 provinces in China from 2014 to 2021. These genome sequences were compared with 135 published PPRV genome sequences including 37 of which were collected from China. The evolutionary rate of PPRV genomes was estimated at 6.70×10-4 nucleotide substitutions per site per year. It is well supported that the predominant PPRV lineage IV can be devided into 7 clades with temporal and spatial correlation. PPRV in China during 2007-2008 and PPRV in China during 2013-2024 grouped into two distinct genetic clades in lineage IV, indicating separated incursion of the disease in 2007 and in 2013. PPRV in China during 2013-2024 shared a common ancestor with a strain from UAE and further evolved into four distinct genetic clusters with no distinct temporal, spatial and host correlation. We used PPRV/XJYL/2013 as the reference genome, 997 single nucleotide variations were identified in PPRV genomes in China during 2013-2024. Five single nucleotide variations which located in the 3' leader, 5'UTR of F gene, H cds, and L cds were identified as anchor mutations, defining the genetic clusters of PPRV in China during 2013-2024. One site in H gene and 5 sites in L gene were found under positive selection. Our study provides significant insights into the molecular epidemiology, evolution and transmission of PPRV, which will aid in the development of effective strategies for PPR control and eradication.
Keywords: Peste des petits ruminants virus, Lineage IV, Genomic epidemiology, evolution, phylogenetic analysis
Received: 02 Sep 2025; Accepted: 27 Oct 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Bao, Jiang, Wang, Wang, Xu, Zhao, Liu, Li, Wang and Wang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Jingyue Bao, baojingyue@cahec.cn
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