Comprehensive phylogeographic and phylodynamic analyses of global Senecavirus A

Abstract

Senecavirus A (SVA) is a member of the genus Senecavirus in the family Picornaviridae that infects pigs and shows symptoms similar to foot and mouth diseases and other vesicular diseases. It is difficult to prevent, thus, causing tremendous economic loss to the pig industry. However, the global transmission routes of SVA and its natural origins remain unclear. In this study, we processed representative SVA sequences from the GenBank database along with 10 newly isolated SVA strains from the field samples collected from our lab to explore the origins, population characteristics, and transmission patterns of SVA. The SVA strains were firstly systematically divided into eight clades including Clade I–VII and Clade Ancestor based on the maximum likelihood phylogenetic inference. Phylogeographic and phylodynamics analysis within the Bayesian statistical framework revealed that SVA originated in the United States in the 1980s and afterward spread to different countries and regions. Our analysis of viral transmission routes also revealed its historical spread from the United States and the risk of the global virus prevalence. Overall, our study provided a comprehensive assessment of the phylogenetic characteristics, origins, history, and geographical evolution of SVA on a global scale, unlocking insights into developing efficient disease management strategies.