Surveillance of human rotaviruses in 2007-2011, Hungary: Exploring the genetic relatedness between vaccine and field strains

Brigitta László*, József Kónya, Eszter Dandár, Judit Deák, Ágnes Farkas, James Gray, Gábor Grósz, Miren Iturriza-Go'Mara, Ferenc Jakab, Ágnes Juhász, Péter Kisfali, Julianna Kovács, György Lengyel, Vito Martella, Béla Melegh, Júlia Mészáros, Péter Molnár, Zoltán Nyúl, Hajnalka Papp, László PátriErzsébet Puskás, Ildikó Sántha, Ferenc Schneider, Katalin Szomor, András Tóth, Erzsébet Tóth, György Szuács, Krisztián Bányai

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    22 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Background: The availability of rotavirus vaccines has resulted in an intensification of post vaccine strain surveillance efforts worldwide to gain information on the impact of vaccines on prevalence of circulating rotavirus strains. Objectives: In this study, the distribution of human rotavirus G and P types in Hungary is reported. In addition, the VP4 and VP7 genes of G1P[8] strains were sequenced to monitor if vaccine-derived strains were introduced and/or some strains/lineages were selected against. Study design: The study was conducted in 8 geographic areas of Hungary between 2007 and 2011. Rotavirus positive stool samples were collected from diarrheic patients mostly <5. years of age. Viral RNA was amplified by multiplex genotyping RT-PCR assay, targeting the medically most important G and P types. When needed, sequencing of the VP7 and VP4 genes was performed. Results: In total, 2380 strains were genotyped. During the 5-year surveillance we observed the dominating prevalence of genotype G1P[8] (44.87%) strains, followed by G4P[8] (23.4%), G2P[4] (14.75%) and G9P[8] (6.81%) genotypes. Uncommon strains were identified in a low percentage of samples (4.12%). Phylogenetic analysis of 318 G1P[8] strains identified 55 strains similar to the Rotarix strain (nt sequence identities; VP7, up to 97.9%; VP4, up to 98.5%) although their vaccine origin was unlikely. Conclusions: Current vaccines would have protected against the majority of identified rotavirus genotypes. A better understanding of the potential long-term effect of vaccine use on epidemiology and evolutionary dynamics of co-circulating wild type strains requires continuous strain surveillance.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)140-146
    Number of pages7
    JournalJournal of Clinical Virology
    Volume55
    Issue number2
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Oct 2012

    Bibliographical note

    Funding Information:
    Funding was provided, in equal parts, by Glaxo-SmithKline Biologicals and Sanofi Pasteur MSD in the form of unrestricted collaborative grants and administered through the Health Protection Agency (London, UK). Additional funding was given by the Hungarian Scientific Research Fund (OTKA, K 100727). B. L.’s Ph.D. stipend was given by the Sanofi-Aventis Hungary and then was supported by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences . K.B. was supported by the Momentum Initiative .

    Keywords

    • Gastroenteritis
    • Genotype
    • Molecular epidemiology
    • VP4
    • VP7

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