Abstract
BACKGROUND: Enteroviruses (EVs) are a genetically and antigenically diverse group of viruses infecting humans and a variety of animals including non-human primates (NHPs). The present study was to investigate EVs in the fecal samples from captive NHPs in zoos in China using classic RT-PCR and viral metagenomics methods. FINDINGS: An EV strain was detected in a fecal sample collected from a captive NHP of a zoo in eastern China. The complete genome of this EV strain (named Sev-nj1) was determined and characterized. Sequence analysis indicated Sev-nj1 shared the highest sequence identity (75.6 %) with an EV-J strain, Poo-1, based on the complete genome. Phylogenetic analysis showed Sev-nj1 clustered with the other EV-J strains, forming a separate clade. DISCUSSION: According to the genetic distance-based criteria, Sev-nj1 belonged to a new type within the species EV-J. This is the first study detecting EV-J from a NHP in China, which will be helpful for the future epidemiology study of EVs in NHPs.