title: Genetic variability of hepatitis A virus in South America reveals heterogeneity and co-circulation during epidemic outbreaks.
abstract: Genetic analysis of selected genome regions of hepatitis A virus (HAV) suggested that distinct genotypes of HAV could be found in different geographical regions. In order to gain insight into the genetic variability and mode of evolution of HAV in South America, an analysis was performed of sequence data obtained from the VP1 amino terminus and the VP1/2A region of HAV strains isolated over a short period of time in Uruguay, Argentina and Chile. Sequences obtained from 22 distinct HAV isolates were compared with published sequences from 21 different strains isolated all over the world. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all strains isolated belong to a unique sub-genotype (IA). Strains isolated during an outbreak period showed a higher degree of heterogeneity than anticipated previously and the co-circulation of different isolates. The genetic variability among strains isolated in this region seems to be higher in comparison with strains isolated in other regions of the world.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Técnicas Nucleares Aplicadas, Centro de Investigaciones Nucleares, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, 11400 Montevideo, Uruguay2.|Laboratorie de Virologie, Institut de Biologie, Centre Hospitalier Regional Universitaire de Nantes, Rue Quai Moncousu 9, 44093 Nantes, France1.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Costa-Mattioli
authors.affiliation: Laboratorie de Virologie, Institut de Biologie, Centre Hospitalier Regional Universitaire de Nantes, Rue Quai Moncousu 9, 44093 Nantes, France1.
authors.forename: Virginie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ferre
authors.affiliation: Laboratorie de Virologie, Institut de Biologie, Centre Hospitalier Regional Universitaire de Nantes, Rue Quai Moncousu 9, 44093 Nantes, France1.
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Monpoeho
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Técnicas Nucleares Aplicadas, Centro de Investigaciones Nucleares, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, 11400 Montevideo, Uruguay2.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Asociación Española Primera de Socorros Mutuos, Boulevard Artigas 1465, 11200 Montevideo, Uruguay3.|Departamento de Técnicas Nucleares Aplicadas, Centro de Investigaciones Nucleares, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, 11400 Montevideo, Uruguay2.
authors.forename: Rodney
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Colina
authors.affiliation: Laboratorie de Virologie, Institut de Biologie, Centre Hospitalier Regional Universitaire de Nantes, Rue Quai Moncousu 9, 44093 Nantes, France1.
authors.forename: Sylviane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Billaudel
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Hematologia, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Austral de Chile, Casilla 567, Valdivia, Chile4.
authors.forename: Ines
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vega
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Rome La Sapienza, Viale di Porta Tiburtina 28, 00185 Roma, Italy5.
authors.forename: Raul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Perez-Bercoff
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Técnicas Nucleares Aplicadas, Centro de Investigaciones Nucleares, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, 11400 Montevideo, Uruguay2.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cristina
mesh_terms: D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D017957:Hepatitis A Virus, Human / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013020:South America / Q000453:epidemiology; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C096539:VP1 protein, hepatitis A virus; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins