Emergence of new variants in foot and mouth disease virus serotype ‘O’ in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa-Pakistan, 2012 to 2015

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagiousdisease mostly caused by serotype A, O, and Asia-1 of virus that is endemic in Pakistan. FMD Serotype ‘O’ is responsible for more than 60% of outbreaks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan. During the present study, a total of 50 samples of FMDV serotype ‘O’ virus were selected from field outbreaks samples preserved at the center. The nucleotide sequences of the VP1 coding region from all the virus samples were determined. The phylogenetic analysis of FMDV serotype ‘O’ viruses circulating in different areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistanwas determined. This indicated continuous mutation from 2012 to 2015 due to the presence of two different sub lineages within ‘O’ PanAsia-II lineage.The current study reveals that the presences of two different sub lineages of FMDV O PanAsia-II were identified which are circulating in different regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan. The emergence of new variants are possibly responsible for the failure of vaccine in the country and creates hindrances in the control of disease inthe region.