Identification of two sublineages of genotype G2 rotavirus among diarrheic children in Parauapebas, Southern Pará State, Brazil

Abstract

On a world scale, group A human rotaviruses are the most common cause of severe acute gastroenteritis during infancy and childhood, including five (G1, G2, G3, G4, and G9) epidemiologically important genotypes. Among these, G2 denotes a different genogroup which appears to have a cyclic pattern of occurrence and yet little information is available about its genetic variability. The aim of this report was to characterize the emergence of G2 genotype in Paraupebas, Southern Pará State, Brazil, some of which detected after introduction of rotavirus vaccine. A total of 241 fecal specimens from young children with acute gastroenteritis were collected from the "Yutaka Takeda Hospital," a Municipality Hospital, and at the Parauapebas' Health Unit, Pará, from January to September 2006 and during March to November 2008. All samples were tested for rotavirus using immunochromatography, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), and RT-PCR, yielding an overall positivity of 12.45% (30/241). Rotavirus G2P[4] was identified in 27 of 30 samples (90%), followed by G1P[8] (2/30, 6.67%) and G9P[8] (1/30, 3.33%). Phylogenetic analysis was performed in 15 of the G2 strains, all of which grouped into lineage II. Four of these strains clustered into sublineage II-a (year 2006) and 11 into one possible new sublineage named II-c (year 2008, except SAL-1920-C). The recent re-emergence of G2 genotype associated with lineage II in Brazil warrants the continuous monitoring of circulating rotavirus strains following the nationwide universal use of rotavirus vaccine.

Molecular characterization of group A rotavirus before and after the introduction of vaccines in Brazil

“…For G2 samples, the occurrence of lineages IId (prevaccination period), as well as IIa and IIc (post-vaccination period) was observed. This pattern was also observed in the northern region of Brazil (12) . This alternating pattern may be associated with drifts over time, resulting from natural selection rather than a vaccine-induced, selective-pressure phenomenon.…”

Molecular characterization of group A rotavirus found in elderly patients in Ireland; Predominance of G1P[8], continued presence of G9P[8], and emergence of G2P[4]

“… Phylogenetic analysis of G2 nucleotide sequences, constructed using Clustal W alignment program and Mega4.1, adapted from Mascarenhas et al [2010]. The tree depicts the isolates from this study grouping into lineages IIC, which to the author's knowledge is the first report of lineage IIC G2 rotavirus in Ireland (CIT‐Bel9792, CIT‐Bel9809).…”

Rotavirus in diarrheal children in rural Burkina Faso: High prevalence of genotype G6P[6]

“…The statistical significance of the relationships obtained was estimated by bootstrap resampling analysis (1000 replications). The assignment of genetic lineages within the G and P genotypes was done using the following references: (Arora and Chitambar, 2011;De Grazia et al, 2011;Martella et al, 2006;Mascarenhas et al, 2010;Phan et al, 2007a,b;Sharma et al, 2009). …”