Molecular characterization of hepatitis A outbreak in the province of Rome, Lazio region, Italy, January-July 2013.
Reduced circulation of hepatitis A virus lead to an increase of susceptible individuals, and outbreaks occurred recently. In Northern Italy an outbreak is ongoing, attributed to a monophyletic genotype IA strain, with mixed frozen berries as probable source. From 01/01/2013 to 07/15/2013, 30 cases were diagnosed at National Institute for Infectious Diseases, Rome, Italy, representing about twice the number of cases in whole 2012. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that most, although not all, infections were attributable to the same monophyletic genotype IA strain identified in the contemporary Northern Italy outbreak. This strain is also very similar to previous isolates from Venezuela.
Laboratory of Virology, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "L. Spallanzani", Via Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: maria.capobianchi@inmi.it.
Maria R
MR
Capobianchi
Laboratory of Virology, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "L. Spallanzani", Via Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy.
Anna Rosa
AR
Garbuglia
Laboratory of Virology, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "L. Spallanzani", Via Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy.
Chiara
C
Agrati
Laboratory of Virology, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "L. Spallanzani", Via Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy.
Alessia
A
Rianda
Laboratory of Virology, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "L. Spallanzani", Via Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy.
Pasquale
P
Noto
Laboratory of Virology, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "L. Spallanzani", Via Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy.
Angela
A
Corpolongo
Laboratory of Virology, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "L. Spallanzani", Via Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy.
Maria Adriana
MA
Cataldo
Laboratory of Virology, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "L. Spallanzani", Via Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy.
Silvia
S
Rosati
Laboratory of Virology, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "L. Spallanzani", Via Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy.
Paola
P
Zaccaro
Local Health Unit ASL Roma D, Via dell'Imbrecciato, 71b/73, 00149, Rome, Italy.
Mariarosaria
M
Loffredo
Ministry of Health, DG for Prevention, V Office, Via G. Ribotta 5, 00144, Rome, Italy.
Maria Grazia
MG
Pompa
Department of Epidemiology, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "L. Spallanzani", Via Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy.
Enrico
E
Girardi
Department of Epidemiology, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "L. Spallanzani", Via Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy.
Paola
P
Scognamiglio
Scientific Direction, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "L. Spallanzani", Via Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy.
Giuseppe
G
Ippolito
D000328:Adult; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D030041:Hepatitis A virus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017385:Sequence Homology
D012367:RNA, Viral
Food-borne infections; Hepatitis A; Molecular characterization; Outbreak; Vaccine-preventable diseases