New volvovirus isolate from Thai domesticated house cricket, Acheta domesticus (Orthoptera: Gryllidae)

This study investigated the genomic characteristics of Acheta domesticus volvovirus (AdVVV) in a commercial cricket farming operation. BLAST analysis of the Acheta domesticus genome assembly identified sequences with high similarity to the AdVVV-Japan genome, suggesting AdVVV presence. PCR confirmed AdVVV infection in the A. domesticus breeding population from Nakhon Ratchasima farm, Thailand. The complete 2,516 nucleotide AdVVV-Thailand genome was reconstructed through targeted primer amplification and sequencing. It contained four open reading frames encoding hypothetical proteins, with a characteristic hairpin structure at the termini, consistent with other AdVVV isolates. Phylogenetic analysis revealed AdVVV-Thailand's closer genetic affiliation with AdVVV-Japan compared to other isolates. Comparative analysis of coding sequences across five AdVVV isolates showed the highest variability in the hypothetical protein/putative capsid protein ORF1, with 64 variable sites out of 1086 bases, suggesting its significance in genetic diversity. In contrast, ORF2, ORF3, and ORF4 exhibited minimal variability. The majority of variations were singletons, with 85.33% confined to ORF1. This study confirmed AdVVV presence in a commercial cricket farm, reconstructed the AdVVV-Thailand genome, provided insights into its phylogeny and genetic diversity across isolates, highlighting the putative capsid protein's role in driving variability. These findings enhance understanding of AdVVV genomics and evolutionary dynamics within cricket populations.