title: Reemergence of new variant G3 rotavirus in Japanese pediatric patients, 2009-2011.
abstract: The molecular epidemiology and characterization of rotaviruses obtained from non-hospitalized children with acute gastroenteritis in five different prefectures (Hokkaido, Saga, Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto) from July 2009 to June 2011 was investigated. Among 831 fecal specimens tested, rotavirus was found in 165 specimens (19.9%). The rotavirus detection rate in 2010-2011 (23.3%) was higher than those in 2009-2010 (16.0%). The highest prevalence of rotavirus was found in children aged 12 to 23 months. Rotavirus could be detected throughout the 8 month period with a peak in April. We found that G3P[8] was the most prevalent genotype (54.5%), followed by G1P[8] (29.1%), G9P[8] (9.1%), G3P[4] (3.0%), G2P[4] (2.5%), G1P[4] (1.2%), and G4P[8] (0.6%), respectively. Interestingly, G3 strains emerged as the most predominant genotype and replaced G1 rotavirus which had been reported as the most predominant genotype in the previous studies. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that G3 rotavirus strains were closely related to the "new variant G3" 5091 strain, which emerged in Japan in 2003-2004. A significant increase in the prevalence of rotavirus G3 found in this study indicates that rotavirus G3 strain is the major cause of infection in five geographical areas of Japan and may distribute globally in the near future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Medical Sciences, School of International Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Aksara
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thongprachum
authors.forename: Wisoot
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chan-it
authors.forename: Pattara
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Khamrin
authors.forename: Shoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Okitsu
authors.forename: Shuichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kikuta
authors.forename: Atsuko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Kumiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugita
authors.forename: Tsuneyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baba
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mizuguchi
authors.forename: Niwat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maneekarn
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hayakawa
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ushijima
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D044466:Asian People; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000266:history; D005838:Genotype; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D015995:Prevalence; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000266:history
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D036022:Capsid Proteins; C060339:VP4 protein, Rotavirus; C050779:VP7 protein, Rotavirus