RT Journal Article SR Electronic(1) A1 Tang, Weiping A1 Zhu, Naling A1 Wang, Haiying A1 Gao, Youwen A1 Wan, Zhengwei A1 Cai, Qundi A1 Yu, Shouyi A1 Tang, ShixingYR 2018 T1 Identification and genetic characterization of equine Pegivirus in China JF Journal of General Virology, VO 99 IS 6 SP 768 OP 776 DO https://doi.org/10.1099/jgv.0.001063 PB Microbiology Society, SN 1465-2099, AB In 2013, two new viruses, equine pegivirus (EPgV) and Theiler’s disease-associated virus (TDAV), both belonging to the genus Pegivirus within the family Flaviviridae, were identified. To investigate the geographical distribution and genetic diversity of these two viruses in China, we screened EPgV and TDAV infection in imported race horses and Chinese work horses by using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). EPgV was detected in 10.8 % (8/74) of the total horses tested, with a prevalence of 5.8 and 22.7 % in the race horses and work horses, respectively. No TDAV infection was found. A near full-length genome sequence of EPgV was obtained that showed an identity of 89.5–90.6 % at the nucleotide level and 98.1–98.3 % at the amino acid level with an American strain, C0035, and another Chinese strain, LW/216, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis showed two different clusters of the sequences from the race horses and work horses, indicating a difference in virus origin. Our results demonstrated a higher positive rate of EPgV in the Chinese work horses than in the imported race horses, a moderate genetic diversity of EPgV strains worldwide and possibly no liver pathogenesis for EPgV infection., UL https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jgv/10.1099/jgv.0.001063