Molecular detection and genetic characterization of circulating measles virus in northern Italy.
Laboratory diagnosis of measles virus (MV) infection and genetic characterization of circulating MV play an essential role in measles surveillance, allowing proper interventions to interrupt endemic transmission.



We describe results obtained using serological and molecular methods to confirm MV infection among suspected cases reported in a large region in the north of Italy during 2010-2014 and the genotyping of the MV strains detected.



Three hundred seventy-two samples (361 urine and 11 oral fluids) were tested for MV-RNA detection. In 281 cases, the serological results for MV-IgM detection were also available.



A total of 276 cases were classified as confirmed measles and MV-RNA detection resulted positive for 239/276 cases. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed sporadic cases of genotypes D9 and different circulations of endemic MV strains (D8, D4 and B3).



This data suggests that there is still an unvaccinated part of the population maintaining the endemic circulation of MV in Italy.
Operative Unit of Clinical Microbiology, Laboratory of Virology, St. Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, Via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy. Electronic address: giulia.piccirilli@yahoo.it.
Giulia
G
Piccirilli
Operative Unit of Clinical Microbiology, Laboratory of Virology, St. Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, Via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy. Electronic address: angela.chiereghin@gmail.con.
Angela
A
Chiereghin
Public Health Unit Emilia-Romagna Region, Viale Aldo Moro 21, 40127 Bologna, Italy. Electronic address: mpascucci@regione.emilia-romagna.it.
Maria Grazia
MG
Pascucci
Public Health Unit Emilia-Romagna Region, Viale Aldo Moro 21, 40127 Bologna, Italy. Electronic address: gfrasca@regione.emilia-romagna.it.
Gabriella
G
Frasca
Unit of Medical Genetics, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy. Electronic address: roberta.zuntini2@unibo.it.
Roberta
R
Zuntini
Unit of Medical Genetics, St. Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy. Electronic address: simo.ferrari@unibo.it.
Simona
S
Ferrari
Operative Unit of Clinical Microbiology, Laboratory of Virology, St. Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, Via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy. Electronic address: liliana.gabrielli@aosp.bo.it.
Liliana
L
Gabrielli
Department of Specialised, Experimental, and Diagnostic Medicine, Operative Unit of Clinical Microbiology, Laboratory of Virology, St. Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy. Electronic address: mariapaola.landini@unibo.it.
Maria Paola
MP
Landini
Department of Specialised, Experimental, and Diagnostic Medicine, Operative Unit of Clinical Microbiology, Laboratory of Virology, St. Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy. Electronic address: tiziana.lazzarotto@unibo.it.
Tiziana
T
Lazzarotto
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D008459:Measles virus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D055815:Young Adult
Genetic characterization; Measles virus; Molecular methods; Sampling time; Serological diagnosis