title: Emergence of human G9 rotavirus with an exceptionally high frequency in children admitted to hospital with diarrhea in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
abstract: Among 315 fecal specimens collected from children hospitalized with diarrhea in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in 2000-2001, group A rotavirus was detected in 107 (34.0%). Of these, 98 (91.6%) were G9, 6 (5.6%) were G3 and 3 (2.8%) were G2, respectively. Identification of their P-types demonstrated that 103 (96.3%) were P[8], 3 (2.8%) were P[4], and 1 (0.9%) was P[3] genotypes. Determination of G- and P-type combination revealed that all of G9 isolates were associated with P[8]. G9P[8] was the most predominant genotype and accounted for the majority (91.6%) of rotaviruses detected in this study. Molecular characterization of these G9 isolates demonstrated that all had long electropherotype, 96 of 98 (98.0%) belonged to subgroup II, one belonged to subgroup I and the other one was subgroup unidentifiable. All of G9 isolates possessed NSP4 genetic group B except for one isolate that showed dual genetic group specificities, B and C. The full-length VP7 gene nucleotide sequences among 15 representatives of these G9 strains were found to be highly homologous with percent identities of 99.3%-100%. Comparison with other G9 strains recently isolated showed that their nucleotide sequences were closely related to those of the US strain, US1205 (98.7%-99.0%) and Thai strain, 97CM108 (98.1%-99.0%). Interestingly, they were most closely related to the Japanese strain, 00-SG2509VP7, isolated in the same epidemic season, with percent nucleotide sequence identity of 99.4%-99.8%. The data imply that G9 strains isolated in this study and a G9 strain isolated in Japan in the year 2000 might have descended from the same ancestor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Pattara
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Khamrin
authors.forename: Supatra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Peerakome
authors.forename: Lumduan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wongsawasdi
authors.forename: Supin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tonusin
authors.forename: Penpuck
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sornchai
authors.forename: Varunee
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Maneerat
authors.forename: Chantana
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Khamwan
authors.forename: Fumihiro
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yagyu
authors.forename: Shoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Okitsu
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ushijima
authors.forename: Niwat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maneekarn
mesh_terms: D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D005814:Genes, Viral; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000821:virology*; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D013045:Species Specificity; D013785:Thailand
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D036022:Capsid Proteins; C050779:VP7 protein, Rotavirus