Unexpected spreading of G12P[8] rotavirus strains among young children in a small area of central Italy

Abstract

Rotavirus gastroenteritis is associated mainly with the five genotypes G1,3,4,9P[8] and G2P[4] that are common worldwide, but emerging strains including G6, G8, and G12 are also reported sporadically. G12P[8] rotavirus was observed unexpectedly to spread in a limited area of Italy during the rotavirus surveillance season 2012-2013. All strains were genotyped for VP7 and VP4 and subjected to phylogenetic analysis. Amino acid sequences of antigenic regions were compared with vaccine and field strains. G12P[8] strains were detected in the stools of 52 of 69 (75%) children infected with rotavirus in the central Italian region of Umbria. All G12 strains belonged to lineage III, and presented the P[8] genotype. Sequence analysis showed close nucleotide identity of both VP4 and VP7 genes among Umbria G12P[8] strains. The VP7 gene was also similar to other G12 strains circulating in different years and countries, and the VP4 gene was closely related to other local and global P[8] strains possessing different G-types. Overall findings suggest either the introduction and evolution of a G12 VP7 gene into the local Wa-like rotavirus population or the spreading of a strain novel for the area. Comparison of the VP8* and VP7 antigenic regions showed high conservation between the amino acid sequences of Umbria G12P[8] strains, and revealed various substitutions in the VP8* antigenic regions between the Italian G12P[8] strains and RotaTeq™ and Rotarix™ vaccine strains. The sudden and unexpected emergence of G12P[8] rotavirus confirms that these strains have the potential to become a sixth common genotype across the world.

VP7 and VP8* genetic characterization of group A rotavirus genotype G12P[8]: Emergence and spreading in the Eastern Brazilian coast in 2014

“…Studies reporting analysis of G12P[8] strains show the wide circulation of the G12‐III lineage in the last years, suggesting that this lineage is associated with the global spread of RVA genotype G12 worldwide, considered the 6th most prevalent human RVA genotype nowadays. On the other hand, other G12 lineages (as G12‐I and G12‐II) remain sporadically detected and usually detected in association with other RVA P genotypes [Delogu et al, ; Tort et al, ; Langa et al, ; Luchs et al, ].…”

“…Group A rotavirus (RVA) genome comprises 11 segments of double stranded RNA (dsRNA) enclosed by a triple‐layered capsid. So far, 27G and 37P genotypes have been described, however only six binary G and P combinations: G1P[8], G2P[4], G3P[8], G4P[8], G9P[8], and more recently G12P[8], were reported to be the most prevalent in humans [Bányai et al, ; Matthijnssens and Van Ranst, ; Trojnar et al, ; Delogu et al, ].…”

“…RVA genotype G12 was firstly detected in 1987 in Philippines [Rahman et al, ] and rarely reported after that. However, in the 21st century, this genotype has been described in association with cases of hospitalization in studies conducted in Argentina, Bhutan, Brazil, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Hungary, India, Kenya, Malawi, and the United States [Castello et al, ; Bányai et al, ; Ray et al, ; Cunliffe et al, ; Pietsch and Liebert, ; McDonald et al, ; Caillère et al, ; Enweronu‐Laryea et al, ; Gomez et al, ; Komoto et al, ; Wangchuk et al, ; Ategbo et al, ], being recently considered the 6th most frequent human RVA genotype [Rahman et al, ; Matthijnssens et al, ; Delogu et al, ].…”

Epidemiology of rotavirus A diarrhea in Chókwè, Southern Mozambique, from February to September, 2011

“…So far, 27 G and 37 P RVA genotypes infecting different species have been described and the genotypes distribution varies across different continents. Six binary combinations: G1P[8], G2P[4], G3P[8], G4P[8], G9P[8], and recently G12P[8] that emerged in different continents, are considered the most prevalent human RVA genotypes [Banyai et al, ; Rahman et al, ; Matthijnssens et al, ; Banyai et al, ; Matthijnssens and Van Ranst, ; Ndze et al, ; Trojnar et al, ; Bucardo et al, ; Delogu et al, ]. In Africa, the first RVA G12 genotype was reported in South Africa and subsequently in other African countries [Cunliffe et al, ; Page et al, ; Banyai et al, ; Seheri et al, ].…”

Detection of emerging rotavirus G12P[8] in Sonora, México

“…It was not reported again until 1998 in Th ailand, then subsequently in [1999][2000][2001][2002][2003][2004][2005][2006] in United States, India, Bangladesh, Japan, Korea, United Kingdom, Belgium, Argentina, and Brazil (Rahman et al, 2007). G12 is currently recognized as a globally emerging rotavirus genotype, displaying a high rate of transmission in recent years (da Silva Soares et al, 2012;Delogu et al, 2015;Tort et al, 2015). In 2006, the Rotavirus vaccine program was implemented in México.…”