title: Evaluation of respiratory syncytial virus group A and B genotypes among nosocomial and community-acquired pediatric infections in Southern Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the main cause of lower respiratory tract illness in children worldwide. Molecular analyses show two distinct RSV groups (A and B) that comprise different genotypes. This variability contributes to the capacity of RSV to cause yearly outbreaks. These RSV genotypes circulate within the community and within hospital wards. RSV is currently the leading cause of nosocomial respiratory tract infections in pediatric populations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the G protein gene diversity of RSV amplicons.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nasopharyngeal aspirate samples were collected from children with nosocomial or community-acquired infections. Sixty-three RSV samples (21 nosocomial and 42 community-acquired) were evaluated and classified as RSV-A or RSV-B by real-time PCR. Sequencing of the second variable region of the G protein gene was performed to establish RSV phylogenetics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed co-circulation of RSV-A and RSV-B, with RSV-A as the predominant group. All nosocomial and community-acquired RSV-A samples were from the same phylogenetic group, comprising the NA1 genotype, and all RSV-B samples (nosocomial and community-acquired) were of the BA4 genotype. Therefore, in both RSV groups (nosocomial and community-acquired), the isolates belonged to only one genotype in circulation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study to describe circulation of the NA1 RSV genotype in Brazil. Furthermore, this study showed that the BA4 genotype remains in circulation. Deciphering worldwide RSV genetic variability will aid vaccine design and development.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Faculdade de Medicina, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Médicas, Rua Ramiro Barcelos 2400, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. fparis@hcpa.ufrgs.br.
authors.forename: Fernanda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de-Paris
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: de Souza Nunes
authors.forename: Alice Beatriz Mombach Pinheiro
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.forename: Rodrigo Minuto
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Paiva
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: da Silva Menezes
authors.forename: Márcia Rosane
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Pires
authors.forename: Rodrigo Pires
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: dos Santos
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Souza Kuchenbecker
authors.forename: Afonso Luis
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Barth
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000821:virology; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D018113:Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C116204:attachment protein G