Mohammed Baba Sheikh - Department of Molecular Biology, Veterinary Laboratory Center, Sulaimani Veterinary Directorate, Sulaimani, Iraq
Peshnyar Atta Rashid - Department of Molecular Biology, Veterinary Laboratory Center, Sulaimani Veterinary Directorate, Sulaimani, Iraq
Zhino Raheem - Department of Molecular Biology, Veterinary Laboratory Center, Sulaimani Veterinary Directorate, Sulaimani, Iraq
Ari Salahadin Marouf - Department of Molecular Biology, Veterinary Laboratory Center, Sulaimani Veterinary Directorate, Sulaimani, Iraq
Kamaran Mohammed Amin - Department of Molecular Biology, Veterinary Laboratory Center, Sulaimani Veterinary Directorate, Sulaimani, Iraq

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is endemic in Iraq. The current study can be considered as the first molecular characterization of serotype O in Iraq. The present investigation reported the determination of FMDV serotype O from local farms in Sulaimani districts in ۲۰۱۶ outbreaks. Samples were collected from suspected cattle. The virus was primarily detected with RT-PCR directly from mouth epithelial samples. The direct sequencing and subsequent analysis of amplified PCR products for the VP۱ gene indicated the circulation of serotype O of FMD in studied areas. Moreover, phylogenetic analysis revealed that the field isolated serotype O belonged to topotype ME-SA and lineage PanAsia II and clustered with Pakistan and Iran isolates (KU۳۶۵۸۴۳ and KY۰۹۱۲۸۳) with identity (۹۶.۰۰%, ۹۵.۰۰%) respectively. Furthermore, according to the phylogenic tree, the field isolates had different lineage with the three O/Manisa vaccine strains and Iraq/۲۰۰۰ strains. These findings highlighted the continuous circulation of serotype O of FMD in the region.

Molecular genotyping, Phylogenetic analysis, viral evolution, VP۱ gene