Molecular epidemiology of measles virus in Iran 2009–2010: First detection of measles genotype H1

Abstract

Measles virus (MV) genotyping is an important component of measles surveillance in the context of monitoring immunization program effectiveness and documenting MV elimination. The molecular epidemiology and genetic variability of circulating MV strains in Iran during the 2009-2010 were studied in consecutive MV isolates from throat swab and urine. Sequence information obtained from 41 cases based on the 456 nucleotides of the most variable region of the C-terminal part of the N-protein revealed that these sequences belonged to two different genotypes. This is the first description of the genetic characterization of sporadic MV genotype H1 cases in northern Iran. Cases were probably linked to MV importation from distant parts of Asia. The genotype H1 has not been detected in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. In addition, both sequence analysis and epidemiologic data indicated that the more recently detected genotype D4 viruses in Iran were related very closely to viruses that were detected in Pakistan, suggesting that these viruses may have been imported from Pakistan. J. Med. Virol. 83:2200-2207, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Molecular epidemiology of measles virus infection in Shanghai in 2000–2012: the first appearance of genotype D8

“…[37][38][39][40] China has committed to eliminate endemic MVs transmission by 2012. 41 It is critical to investigate the genotype of circulating MVs in order to control the spread of imported strains.…”

Implementation of a National Measles Elimination Program in Iran: Phylogenetic Analysis of Measles Virus Strains Isolated during 2010–2012 Outbreaks

“…According to the previous study, the genotype H1 was probably linked to the MV importation from distant parts of Asia in 2009 [7]. 23 (13.3%) out of 173 samples belonged to genotype H1 (Figure 7).…”

“…According to the appropriate sample collection of measles suspected cases as well as serological and molecular assays, genotype information is always available in Iran [5], [7], [8]. After mass vaccination campaign in 2003, there were limited numbers of measles outbreaks in Iran from 2004 to 2008 [5], [6].…”

“…Genotype H1 was detected in 2009 [7] but there had been no reported cases of measles H1 until 2012. Our phylogenetic analysis has shown that the genotype H1 detected in 2012 was different from those detected in 2009 with 0.5% difference.…”

“…Two different measles genotypes have been reported from 2002-May 2010 in Iran [7]. Genotype D4 was considered as the indigenous genotype before mass vaccination [8], [9] and genotype H1 as imported genotype from distant parts of Asia [7]. According to the new measles elimination strategy of the WHO, Iran aimed to eliminate MV by 2015 [2].…”