Ongoing rubella outbreak in Bosnia and Herzegovina, March-July 2009 - preliminary report

Rubella virus (RV) usually causes a mild disease. However, infection during the first trimester of pregnancy often leads to severe birth defects known as congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). Although wild-type RVs exist and circulate worldwide, their genotypes remain unknown in many countries. The aim of this study was to identify the molecular characteristics of RVs found in Vietnam during the years 2009-2010 and to provide the first data concerning RV genotypes in this country. Throat swab samples were collected between 2009 and 2010 from four CRS cases and nine rubella infection cases visiting one Children's Hospital and one outpatient clinic in Ho Chi Minh City. The 739-nucleotide coding region of the RV E1 gene recommended by the World Health Organization was amplified by reverse transcriptase PCR, and the resulting DNA fragments were then sequenced. Sequences were assigned to genotypes by phylogenetic analysis with RV reference strains. RV RNA was detected in 11 clinical specimens. Phylogenetic analysis of the sequences showed that all 11 strains belonged to 2B genotype. Several variations in amino acids were found, among which five changes were involved in the B and T cell epitopes. These data indicate that viruses of genotype 2B were circulating in Vietnam. The increasing information about RV genotype in Vietnam should aid in the control of rubella infection and CRS in this country.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 51%

Phylogenetic analysis of rubella viruses in vietnam during 2009–2010

Tran

Pham

Tran³

et al. 2012

“…More recently, the circulation of genotype 1j was documented in Spain, possibly introduced by persons from Latin America [Martinez‐Torres et al, 2009]. Genotype 2B is autochthonous in the Far East, namely Japan and Korea, and in South Africa, although it is now considered an imported European genotype [Jin and Thomas, 2007; Novo et al, 2009]. In Italy, genotyping of RUBVs isolated during three consecutive outbreaks (1991–1997) showed that clade 1 viruses were predominant, while only two strains belonging to clade 2 were detected during the epidemic of 1994 [Zheng et al, 2003].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epidemiological and molecular assessment of a rubella outbreak in North‐Eastern Italy

D’Agaro¹,

Molin²,

Zamparo³

et al. 2010

From January to June 2008, a rubella outbreak involving 111 laboratory confirmed cases occurred in the Friuli Venezia Giulia (FVG) region of North‐Eastern Italy. The outbreak occurred initially in two residential homes for young adults disabled mentally and physically. Subsequently, the epidemic spread to the general population. Young adult cohorts were mostly affected and the mean age of the patients was 26.8 years; the majority of cases were male (73.8%), with a mean age of 26.6 years in males and 27.4 in females. Three pregnant women had a primary infection and two had their pregnancies terminated. Genotyping of 16 isolates showed the circulation of RUBV 2B, a genotype originating from Asia and South Africa and now present in Europe. In addition, molecular analysis revealed a well defined space‐temporal spread of two viruses showing distinct sequences. A seroepidemiological survey carried out in a city within the same geographical area showed that the proportion of women of childbearing age still susceptible to rubella virus was 5.5%, fairly close to the figure (<5%) expected by 2010. J. Med. Virol. 82:1976–1982, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

“…Genotype 2B viruses are known to have circulated in China, India, South Korea, and South Africa [WHO, 2005, 2007; Caidi et al, 2008; Rajasundari et al, 2008; Zhu et al, 2010] before being introduced in some European countries [Jin and Thomas, 2007; Novo et al, 2009; D'Agaro et al, 2010; Vauloup‐Fellous et al, 2010] and South America [Valinotto et al, 2009; Gallegos et al, 2011]. The fact that genotype 2B was not detected in the Americas before 2006 may indicate importation from Europe or Asia where this genotype is endemic.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phylogenetic analysis of rubella virus strains during an outbreak in São Paulo, 2007–2008

Figueiredo

Oliveira

Curti

et al. 2012

Rubella virus (RV) is an important human pathogen that causes rubella, an acute contagious disease. It also causes severe birth defects collectively known as congenital rubella syndrome when infection occurs during the first trimester of pregnancy. Here, we present the phylogenetic analysis of RV that circulated in São Paulo during the 2007-2008 outbreak. Samples collected from patients diagnosed with rubella were isolated in cell culture and sequenced. RV RNA was obtained from samples or RV-infected cell cultures and amplified by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Sequences were assigned to genotypes by phylogenetic analysis using RV reference sequences. Seventeen sequences were analyzed, and three genotypes were identified: 1a, 1G, and 2B. Genotypes 1a and 1G, which were isolated in 2007, were responsible for sporadic rubella cases in São Paulo. Thereafter, in late 2007, the epidemiological conditions changed, resulting in a large RV outbreak with the clear dominance of genotype 2B. The results of this study provide new approaches for monitoring the progress of elimination of rubella from São Paulo, Brazil.