Increased frequency of rotavirus G3P[8] and G12P[8] in Argentina during 2008–2009: Whole-genome characterization of emerging G12P[8] strains

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Abstract

Background

Group A rotaviruses are the leading cause of non-bacterial severe diarrhea disease in infants and young children. In humans, the most common genotypes are G1–G4 and G9. Recently, G12 strains have been sporadically reported in several countries, including Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay.

Objectives

To analyze rotavirus strain diversity in Argentina during 2008–2009 and to describe the whole genome-based classification of emerging G12P[8] strains detected in our country.

Study design

Rotavirus positive-samples (n = 544) were collected from Argentinean children during 2008–2009, as a part of the National Surveillance Network for Viral Diarrheas. Specimens were genotyped by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) followed by nested-multiplex PCR. Sequencing of 11 genome segments was performed in 3 randomly selected G12P[8] strains.

Results

G9P[8] was the most frequent strain in 2008, but in 2009 G3P[8] and G12P[8] were the most frequent strains in different geographical regions of the country. The novel emerging G12P[8] strains presented the following combination of genes: G12-P[8]-I1-R1-C1-M1-A1-N1-T1-E1-H1 (i.e. genotype1, Wa-like strains). The phylogenetic analysis of the VP7 gene of the G12P[8] strains grouped them within lineage III. Previously reported Argentinean G12P[9] strains presented genes from genotype 3 (AU-1-like strains) with a VP7 gene from lineage II.

Conclusions

The emergence of G12P[8] rotaviruses was due to the introduction of a new strain, rather than to a reassortment of the G12P[9] strains previously circulating in our country. This study assesses the temporal and geographical changes in genotypes prevalence as well as the periodic emergence of unusual G genotypes.

Section snippets

Background

Group A rotaviruses are the leading cause of non-bacterial severe diarrhea disease in young children worldwide. More than 90% of the deaths related to rotavirus occur in developing countries; however, rotavirus infection causes substantial morbidity and economic impact in developed countries.1 It has been estimated that in Latin America and the Caribbean, rotavirus causes approximately 10 million diarrhea episodes, 2 million clinic consultations, 75,000 hospital admissions and 15,000 deaths

Objectives

To analyze the rotavirus strain diversity detected in Argentina during 2008–2009 and the whole genome-based classification of the novel emerging G12P[8] strains to shed light in the introduction of these strains in our country.

Sample collection

A total of 3581 fecal samples were collected from January 2008 to December 2009 from non-vaccinated children up to 5 years old with acute diarrhea. Immunocompromised patients and/or chronic gastroenteritis were excluded from the study. To ensure that the infecting strains were actually circulating in the community, fecal samples were collected within 24 h of being admitted as out- or in-patients; according to the Argentinean National Surveillance Network for Viral Diarrhea protocol. Samples were

G and P typing

A total of 544 rotavirus-positive samples collected were genotyped in the National Reference Laboratory of Argentina. The overall data shows that G3P[8] strains were the most frequently detected (39%), followed by G12P[8] (24.8%), G9P[8] (17.5%), and G1P[8] (11.6%) (Table 1). As previously described, seasonal and geographic variations in the predominant strains can be detected in Argentina.26, 27 Thus, during the first year, G9P[8] was the most frequently detected genotype (82/206; 39.8%),

Discussion

Diarrheal diseases represent a high burden to the Argentinean government, being the second cause of morbidity in children under 5 years of age. In 2009, the National Health Surveillance System reported almost one million cases of acute diarrhea, half of which occurred in children under 5 years of age, and of which rotavirus represents the most prevalent enteropathogen.28 To prevent and control viral diarrhea in Latin America, a great effort from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has

Funding

None.

Competing interests

None declared.

Ethical approval

Not required.

Acknowledgments

We thank Karina Rivero and Ezequiel Reale for technical support.

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    c

    Present address: National Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.

    d

    Additional members of the National Rotavirus Surveillance Network of Argentina who contributed data: N. Camacho (Hospital Castellanos. Salta), E. Caillou (Hospital del Niño Jesús. Tucumán), R. Alabarse (Hospital del Niño Jesús. Tucumán), M. Cabral (Hospital de Niños Eva Perón. Catamarca), R. Espejo (Hospital Rawson. San Juan), A. Millan (Hospital Alassia. Santa Fé), J. Beltramino (Hospital Alassia. Santa Fé), C. Roldan (Hospital de Pediatría Dr. J.P. Garrahan. Buenos Aires.), A. Amarilla (Hospital Heller. Neuquén), A. Vera (Hospital Río Gallegos. Santa Cruz).

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