One Year Survey of Human Rotavirus Strains Suggests the Emergence of Genotype G12 in Cameroon

Abstract

In this study the emergence of rotavirus A genotype G12 in children <5 years of age is reported from Cameroon during 2010/2011. A total of 135 human stool samples were P and G genotyped by reverse transcriptase PCR. Six different rotavirus VP7 genotypes were detected, including G1, G2, G3, G8, G9, and G12 in combinations with P[4], P[6] and P[8] VP4 genotypes. Genotype G12 predominated in combination with P[8] (54.1%) and P[6] (10.4%) genotypes followed by G1P[6] (8.2%), G3P[6] (6.7%), G2P[4] (5.9%), G8P[6] (3.7%), G2P[6] (0.7%), G3P[8] (0.7%), and G9P[8] (0.7%). Genotype P[6] strains in combination with various G-types represented a substantial proportion (N=44, 32.6%) of the genotyped strains. Partially typed strains included G12P[NT] (2.2%); G3P[NT] (0.7%); G(NT)P[6] (1.5%); and G(NT)P[8] (0.7%). Mixed infections were found in five specimens (3.7%) in several combinations including G1+ G12P[6], G2+ G3P[6] + P[8], G3+ G8P[6], G3 + G12P[6] + P[8], and G12P[6] +P[8]. The approximately 10% relative frequency of G12P[6] strains detected in this study suggests that this strain is emerging in Cameroon and should be monitored carefully as rotavirus vaccine is implemented in this country, as it shares neither G- nor P-type specificity with strains in the RotaTeq® and Rotarix® vaccines. These findings are consistent with other recent reports of the global spread and increasing epidemiologic importance of G12 and P[6] strains.

Whole-Genome Analysis of a Rare Human Korean G3P[9] Rotavirus Strain Suggests a Complex Evolutionary Origin Potentially Involving Reassortment Events between Feline and Bovine Rotaviruses

“…The VP6 and VP1 gene segments of the CAU12-2-51 strain clustered closely with strains originating from human/bovine-like rotavirus strains (BP1879, Hun5, KF17, PAH136, PAI11-96, Nov10-N507, and RUS-Nov06-K2), a feline/bovine-like G3P[9] strain (BA222), and a human/bovine-porcine like G12P[4] strain (L26; Figure 1c, 1d, and Table S2) [19], [33]–[37]. In contrast, VP2 , VP3 , and NSP2 gene segments were found to cluster together with most of the known rotavirus strains originating from human/bovine-like G6P[14] rotaviruses (B1711, Hun5, PAH136, PAI58, and KF17), a feline/bovine-like G3P[9] rotavirus (BA222), and bovine rotaviruses (NCDV, RF, WC3, 1063, and 1065; Figure 1e, 1f, 1h, and Table S2) [12], [19], [37], [39], [40], [42], [43], [44], [45], [46].…”

“…The human rotavirus G1–G4 genotypes account for almost all rotavirus infections circulating in South Korea in recent years. G1 was the predominant genotype before 2000 and between 2004 and 2009; G2 and G3 were more prevalent during the seasons of 2000–2001 and 2003–2005, respectively; and G4 was predominant during the seasons of 2002–2003 and 2007–2008 [42]. G3 rotavirus genotypes have a broad host range and they have been discovered in several host species.…”

Molecular surveillance of rotavirus strains circulating in Yaoundé, Cameroon, September 2007–December 2012

“…The genotype G12P[8] was also detected and has been circulating in Yaoundé since 2007. This genotype is rare in Africa and so far has been detected only in few African countries and most recently, in a study in Northern Cameroon in 2010/2011, by Ndze and colleagues,G12P[8] was the most predominant strain identified with a high prevalence (54.1%) (Ndze et al, 2013). G12P[8] was also found in the neighboring country, in Nigeria in 2010-2011 (Cunliffe et al, 2009;Oluwatoyin Japhet et al, 2012;Page et al, 2009).…”

Rotavirus Surveillance in Urban and Rural Areas of Niger, April 2010–March 2012

“…This 2-year study captured the emergence of G12P[8] strains, which are emerging in several areas of the world ( 9 , 13 – 16 ). …”

“…Since 2000, the prevalence of G1 strains has been declining, and other genotypes, such as G9 and G12, have emerged ( 9 ). In Africa, G12 strains were first detected in southern Africa, mostly in association with P[6] ( 10 – 12 ), and G12P[8] recently emerged as a predominant strain in western Africa ( 13 , 14 ) and some regions of Spain ( 15 ), Argentina ( 16 ), and the United States ( 17 ). …”