title: Environmental assessment reveals the presence of MLB-1 human astrovirus in Uruguay.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of the recently identified human astrovirus (HAstV) and to increase the knowledge of the molecular epidemiology of classical HAstV detected in Uruguay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Recently identified and classical HAstV genotypes were investigated by RT-PCR targeting the ORF1b and ORF2 genome regions in 20 samples obtained between September 2011 and April 2013 in two cities of the eastern region of Uruguay. Four of 20 samples (20%) were identified as MLB-1 genotype and it was found a new MLB-1 classification through the segregation of the worldwide reported MLB-1 strains in two genetic lineages proposed and named: MLB-1a and MLB-1b. Fourteen (70%) samples were positive for classical HAstV and 12 of them were successfully sequenced and genotyped as: HAstV-1 (n = 10), HAstV-2 and HAstV-5 (one sample each).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results constitute the first report in the Latin American region concerning the molecular detection and characterization of MLB-1 HAstV strains in environmental samples.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study highlights the benefits of an environmental surveillance to study emerging enteric viruses circulating in human societies.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Department of Biological Sciences, Regional Norte, CENUR Noroeste, Universidad de la República, Salto, Uruguay.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lizasoain
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Department of Biological Sciences, Regional Norte, CENUR Noroeste, Universidad de la República, Salto, Uruguay.
authors.forename: L F L
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Tort
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Department of Biological Sciences, Regional Norte, CENUR Noroeste, Universidad de la República, Salto, Uruguay.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: García
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Comparative and Environmental Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Gómez
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Comparative and Environmental Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: J P G
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Leite
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Comparative and Environmental Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Miagostovich
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Nuclear Investigation Center, School of Sciences, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cristina
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Department of Biological Sciences, Regional Norte, CENUR Noroeste, Universidad de la República, Salto, Uruguay.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Colina
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Department of Biological Sciences, Regional Norte, CENUR Noroeste, Universidad de la República, Salto, Uruguay.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Victoria
mesh_terms: D019350:Astroviridae Infections / Q000821:virology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000821:virology; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D001257:Mamastrovirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D012722:Sewage / Q000821:virology*; D014583:Uruguay / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D012722:Sewage
keywords: MLB-1; human astrovirus; lineages; molecular characterization; sewage