Genetic characterization of measles virus strains isolated during an epidemic cluster in Puglia, Italy 2006-2007.
The genetic characterization of wild-type measles strains isolated during an epidemic cluster of measles occurred in Puglia (South Italy), between November 2006 and January 2007, was performed. Measles virus (MV) detection was carried out by a nested RT-PCR on 8 of 18 total cases. The viruses were analyzed using the standard genotyping protocols. The N gene sequences of the strains from outbreak were identical to each other, and sequence analysis revealed that the viruses belonged to genotype B3, subgroup B3.1, never identified before in Italy. An importation of measles B3.1 strains from Africa was hypothesized. Molecular surveillance will help to monitor the progress in measles elimination.
Chironna
Maria
M
Hygiene Section, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari, Policlinico Piazza G, Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy. m.chironna@igiene.uniba.it
Prato
Rosa
R
Sallustio
Anna
A
Martinelli
Domenico
D
Germinario
Cinzia
C
Lopalco
Pierluigi
P
Quarto
Michele
M
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D005814:Genes, Viral; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D008459:Measles virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D010802:Phylogeny
D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins