Epidemiological study of unusual rotavirus strains and molecular characterization of emerging P[14] strains isolated from children with acute gastroenteritis during a 15-year period

Abstract

Rotavirus group A (RVA) is characterized by molecular and epidemiological diversity. To date, 42 G and 58 P RVA genotypes have been identified, some of which, like P[14], have a zoonotic origin. In this study, we describe the epidemiology of unusual RVA genotypes and the molecular characteristics of P[14] strains. Fecal samples from children ≤ 16 years of age with acute gastroenteritis (AGE) who were hospitalized during 2007–2021 in Greece were tested for RVA by immunochromatography. Positive RVA samples were G and P genotyped, and part of the VP7 and VP4 genes were sequenced by the Sanger method. Epidemiological data were also recorded. Phylogenetic analysis of P[14] was performed using MEGA 11 software. Sixty-two (1.4%) out of 4427 children with RVA AGE were infected with an unusual G (G6/G8/G10) or P (P[6]/P[9]/P[10]/P[11]/P[14]) genotype. Their median (IQR) age was 18.7 (37.3) months, and 67.7% (42/62) were males. None of the children were vaccinated against RVA. P[9] (28/62; 45.2%) was the most common unusual genotype, followed by P[14] (12/62; 19.4%). In the last two years, during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic, an emergence of P[14] was observed (5/12, 41.6%) after an 8-year absence. The highest prevalence of P[14] infection was seen in the spring (91.7%). The combinations G8P[14] (41.7%), G6P[14] (41.7%), and G4P[14] (16.6%) were also detected. Phylogenetic analysis showed a potential evolutionary relationship of three human RVA P[14] strains to a fox strain from Croatia. These findings suggest a possible zoonotic origin of P[14] and interspecies transmission between nondomestic animals and humans, which may lead to new RVA genotypes with unknown severity.

Genotyping of VP6 and NSP4 genes and molecular characterization of NSP4 gene of unusual Rotavirus group A isolated from children with acute gastroenteritis

“…G3-P[9]-I2-E3 was the most prevalent G-P-I-E genotype combination throughout this study (n = 7/34, 20.6%). The increase in E3 was observed in the same period with the increase of P [9] strains in Greece, as recorded by Tatsi et al [15]. The rst record of the G3-P[9]-I2-E3 genotype in humans was in 2012 in Korea, where it was isolated from a 9 year old female [25].…”

“…Nucleic acid extraction and reverse transcription (RT) were performed as previously described [15]. PCR ampli cation was performed using GoTaq DNA polymerase (Promega; Madison, WIS, USA) and primers F: 5'-GAC GGV GCR ACT ACA TGG T-3' and R: 5'-GTC CAA TTC ATN CCT GGT G-3' for the VP6 gene and F: 5'-GGC TTT TAA AAG TTC TGT TCC GAG-3' and R: 5'-GTC ACA YTA AGA CCR TTC CTT CCA T-3' for NSP4 gene [16,17].…”

“…After their release, notable changes in genotype distribution have been described worldwide, such as the increase in unusual G and P genotypes [2,14]. The aim of this study was the genotyping of VP6 and NSP4 genes as well as the molecular and phylogenetic characterization of NSP4 gene of previously described [15] unusual G and P RVA strains isolated from children ≤ 16 years with AGE.…”

Molecular characterization of VP6 and NSP4 genes of unusual G and P Rotavirus group A isolated from children with acute gastroenteritis

“…This is a retrospective study involving RVA positive fecal samples with previously described unusual G (G6, G8, G10) and/or P (P[6], P [9], P [10], P [11], P [14]) genotypes collected from children ≤ 16 years hospitalized with AGE. [15] In the present study, these strains were further genotyped in VP6 (I genotype) and NSP4 (E genotype) genes.…”

“…[12,13] After their release, notable changes in genotype distribution have been described worldwide, such as the increase in unusual G and P genotypes. [2,14] The aim of this study was the molecular and phylogenetic characterization of VP6 and NSP4 genes of previously described [15] unusual G and P RVA strains isolated from children ≤ 16 years with AGE.…”