Rotaviruses are double-stranded RNA viruses of the family Reoviridae, a highly diverse family of pathogens of humans and animals. In this study, we identified the lapine rotavirus from diarrheic feces of rabbits by polymerase chain reaction. In order to determine the genetic characteristics of the Korean strain, the sequences of the VP4, VP7, and NSP4 genes were determined and compared with those of reference sequences. Results of sequence and phylogenetic analyses showed that our strain was a G3P [3] rotavirus carrying the group C gene encoding NSP 4 proteins. This is the first report of an outbreak and molecular characterization of lapine rotavirus in Korea.

• Yeon-Hee Kim(Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University)
• Eun-Yong Lee(Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency)
• Jae-Ku Oem(Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency)
• Seong-Hee Kim(Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency)
• Kyoung-Ki Lee(Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency)
• Myoung-Heon Lee(Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency)
• Se-Chang Park(College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University) Corresponding author