Identification of a new goat torovirus strain: first detection and genomic analysis in China

Abstract Using viral metagenomics, we identified a novel torovirus, GToV/SWUN/SC, in diarrheal goat fecal samples with a genome length of 28,457 nt. This strain shares 96.73–96.79% nucleotide identity with Antelope torovirus (AToV) but only 88.43% with the GToV/SZ strain. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a close evolutionary relationship between GToV/SWUN/SC and AToV. Structural analysis showed three distinct structural variations in the HE protein and multiple amino acid mutations in the S gene, which may influence host adaptation. RT-PCR detected a 35.9% (240/669) positivity rate, indicating widespread circulation of GToV in Sichuan, Chongqing, and Yunnan. This study enhances the understanding of torovirus epidemiology and evolution, providing a theoretical basis for further research on viral diversity.