Surveillance of Human Rotaviruses in Wuhan, China (2019–2022): Whole-Genome Analysis of Emerging DS-1-like G8P[8] Rotavirus

Abstract

Group A rotaviruses (RVAs) are major etiologic agents of gastroenteritis in infants and young children worldwide. To study the prevalence and genetic characteristics of RVAs, a hospital-based surveillance study was conducted in Wuhan, China from June 2019 through May 2022. The detection rate of RVAs was 19.40% (142/732) and 3.51% (8/228) in children and adults, respectively. G9P[8] was the predominant genotype, followed by G8P[8] and G3P[8]. G8P[8] emerged and was dominant in the 2021–2022 epidemic season. The genome constellation of six G8P[8] strains was assigned to G8-P[8]-I2-R2-C2-M2-A2-N2-T2-E2-H2. A phylogenetic analysis revealed that the VP7, VP4, VP2, VP3, NSP1, NSP2, NSP3, and NSP5 genes of these G8P[8] strains clustered closely with those of the G8P[8] strains in Asia and were distant from those of the P[8] and G2P[4] strains simultaneously detected in Wuhan. In contrast, the VP1, VP6, and NSP4 genes were closely related to the typical G2P[4] rotavirus, including those of G2P[4] strains simultaneously detected in Wuhan. The detection rate of RVAs decreased in the COVID-19 pandemic era. It was deduced that the G8P[8] rotaviruses that emerged in China may be reassortants, carrying the VP6, VP1, and NSP4 genes derived from the G2P[4] virus in the backbone of the neighboring DS-1-like G8P[8] strains represented by CAU17L-103.

Major changes in prevalence and genotypes of rotavirus diarrhea in Beijing, China after RV5 rotavirus vaccine introduction

“…Reassortment and mutation have a major impact on the evolution of rotavirus and the emergence of new strains 23 . The complete genotypes of G8P[8] strain circulating in Beijing was “G8‐P[8]‐I2‐R2‐C2‐M2‐A2‐N2‐T2‐E2‐H2.” This strain was formed by multiple reassortment events between the DS‐1‐like strains and a bovine‐like G8 genotype (DS‐1‐like G8P[8] strain) 23,24 . G8P[8] was also detected in other regions of China from 2020 to 2022, such as Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Wuhan, and Shanghai, which also became the predominant strain in children in Shanghai in 2022 and is highly similar to the strains in our study 25–28 .…”

Emergence and high prevalence of unusual rotavirus G8P[8] strains in outpatients with acute gastroenteritis in Shanghai, China

“…It has been detected in children in many countries and has become one of the dominant strains in some sub‐Saharan African countries 11 . Data from studies in Beijing and Wuhan showed that a high proportion of children with AGE were infected with G8 RVA recently 9,10 . Altogether, the data indicate that G8 will be likely replace G9 as the predominant G genotype among RVA‐infected children with AGE in China.…”

“…11 Data from studies in Beijing and Wuhan showed that a high proportion of children with AGE were infected with G8 RVA recently. 9,10 Altogether, the data indicate that G8 will be likely replace G9 as the predominant G genotype among RVA-infected children with AGE in China. This hypothesis needs to be supported by more comprehensive epidemiological data on RVA in different regions of China.…”

“… 7 Among these, several genotype combinations, including G1P[8], G2P[4], G3P[8], G4P[8], G9P[8] and G12P[8], together account for an estimated 90‐95% of all RVA infections worldwide 4,8 . Interestingly, G8P[8] has been detected in China and elsewhere outside Africa and becomes predominant in recent years, apparently on post‐COVID‐19 pandemic period 9–11 …”

“…4,8 Interestingly, G8P [8] has been detected in China and elsewhere outside Africa and becomes predominant in recent years, apparently on post-COVID-19 pandemic period. [9][10][11] In Shanghai, studies on RVA infection in children with AGE during 2020 to 2022 were lacking. The aim of the present study is to describe epidemiology and genetic diversity of RVA and updated the profiles of RVA genotypes in children younger than 16 years with AGE in Shanghai from May 2020 to December 2022.…”