title: Temporal dynamics of norovirus GII.4 variants in Brazil between 2004 and 2012.
abstract: Noroviruses (NoVs) are the major cause of acute gastroenteritis outbreaks, and, despite a wide genetic diversity, genotype II.4 is the most prevalent strain worldwide. Mutations and homologous recombination have been proposed as mechanisms driving the epochal evolution of the GII.4, with the emergence of new variants in 1-3-year intervals causing global epidemics. There are no data reporting the dynamics of GII.4 variants along a specific period in Brazil. Therefore, to improve the understanding of the comportment of these variants in the country, the aim of this study was to evaluate the circulation of NoV GII.4 variants during a 9-year period in 3 out of 5 Brazilian regions. A total of 147 samples were sequenced, and a phylogenetic analysis of subdomain P2 demonstrated the circulation of six GII.4 variants, Asia_2003, Hunter_2004, Den Haag_2006b, Yerseke_2006a, New Orleans_2009, and Sydney_2012, during this period. The most prevalent variant was Den Haag_2006b, circulating in different Brazilian regions from 2006 to 2011. A Bayesian coalescent analysis was used to calculate the mean evolutionary rate of subdomain P2 as 7.3 × 10(-3) (5.85 × 10(-3) -8.82 × 10(-3)) subst./site/year. These analyses also demonstrated that clade Den Haag_2006b experienced a rapid expansion in 2005 and another in 2008 after a period of decay. The evaluation of the temporal dynamics of NoV GII.4 in Brazil revealed a similar pattern, with few exceptions, to the worldwide observation. These data highlight the importance of surveillance for monitoring the emergence of new strains of NoV GII.4 and its impact on cases of acute gastroenteritis.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Virologia Comparada e Ambiental, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz - Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Julia Monassa
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Fioretti
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de AIDS & Imunologia Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz - Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gonzalo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bello
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Virologia Comparada e Ambiental, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz - Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mônica Simões
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.affiliation: Universidad de La República, Laboratorio de Virología Molecular - Regional Norte, Ciudad de Salto, Uruguay.
authors.forename: Matias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Victoria
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Virologia Comparada e Ambiental, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz - Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: José Paulo Gagliardi
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Leite
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Virologia Comparada e Ambiental, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz - Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marize Pereira
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Miagostovich
mesh_terms: D001499:Bayes Theorem; D001938:Brazil; D003710:Demography; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D029322:Norovirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors