Genetic relationships between 22 spring viraemia of carp virus (SVCV) isolates from Austria collected between 1994 and 2007 were determined based on the partial nucleotide sequence of the glycoprotein gene (G gene). Phylogenetic analyses located all Austrian isolates except one in genogroup Id. One isolate collected in 2007 was placed within the SVCV Ia genogroup. More importantly, the study also revealed 3 distinct clusters within genogroup Id, designated Id1, Id2 and Id3. Existence of subgroups Id2 and Id3 within the genogroup Id was supported by high bootstrap values. The genetic clustering could neither be linked to host species nor to geographic localization of fish farms. Furthermore, no clear link could be established between the pathological lesions and phylogenetic relationship. However, time-dependent division of the isolates was observed. Viruses from the Id1 cluster were mainly sampled in Austria in the 1990s and up until 2003, whereas all viruses from the Id2 subgroup were isolated after 2003.

Avian hepevirus infections were detected in chickens suffering from big liver and spleen disease or hepatitis-splenomegaly syndrome in Australia, the USA and Europe. Available data indicate their genetic relationship to mammalian hepatitis E virus (HEV). In the present study, the near-complete genomic sequences of an Australian and a European isolate of avian hepatitis E virus (avian HEV) are reported for the first time. Furthermore, the phylogenetic relationship to other avian HEVs is determined. Sequence analyses of these isolates identified major genetic differences among avian HEVs. Most of them are located within the open reading frame (ORF)1 region, although only a few lie within conserved motifs of predicted domains. Non-silent mutations in the ORF2 region suggest the presence of potentially different epitopes among avian HEV isolates. Finally, phylogenetic analysis confirmed the distant relationship to mammalian HEV and additionally suggested that the avian HEVs can be separated into three different genotypes: 1 (Australia), 2 (USA) and 3 (Europe), indicating a geographical distribution pattern.