Genetic diversity of rotavirus strains circulating in environmental water and bivalve shellfish in Thailand.
Rotavirus is a common cause of acute diarrhea in young children worldwide. This study investigated the prevalence and molecular characterization of rotavirus in environmental water and oyster samples in Thailand. A total of 114 water samples and 110 oyster samples were collected and tested for group A rotavirus using RT-nested PCR. Rotavirus genotype was identified by phylogenetic analysis of the VP7 genetic sequences. Group A rotavirus was detected in 21 water samples (18.4%) and six oyster samples (5.4%). Twenty five rotavirus strains were successfully sequenced and classified into four genotypes; G1, G2, G3, and G9. Rotavirus G1 (three strains), G2 (three strains), and G9 (two strains) demonstrated the genetic sequences similar to human strains (90%-99% nucleotide identity), whereas G3 (17 strains) was closely related to animal strains (84%-98% nucleotide identity). G1 strains belonged to lineages I (sub-lineage c) and II. G2 strains belonged to lineage II. G9 strains belonged to lineages III (sub-lineage b) and IV. G3 strains belonged to lineages I, III (sub-lineage c), and IV with a predominance of lineage I. The present study provides important information on the rotavirus strains circulating in the environment.
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, 420/1 Ratchawithi Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand. leera.kit@mahidol.ac.th.
Leera
L
Kittigul
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, 420/1 Ratchawithi Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand. pin_pooh@hotmail.com.
Apinya
A
Panjangampatthana
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, 420/1 Ratchawithi Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand. kitwadee.rp@gmail.com.
Kitwadee
K
Rupprom
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, 420/1 Ratchawithi Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand. kannika.pom@mahidol.ac.th.
Kannika
K
Pombubpa
D000818:Animals; D049896:Crassostrea / Q000821:virology*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000235:genetics*; D013785:Thailand; D014871:Water Microbiology