Search

We report the first genetic characterization of wildtype measles viruses from Uganda. Thirty-six virus isolates from outbreaks in 6 districts were analyzed from 2000 to 2002. Analyses of sequences of the nucleoprotein (N) and hemagglutinin (H) genes showed that the Ugandan isolates were all closely related, and phylogenetic analysis indicated that these viruses were members of a unique group within clade D. Sequences of the Ugandan viruses were not closely related to any of the World Health Organization reference sequences representing the 22 currently recognized genotypes. The minimum nucleotide divergence between the Ugandan viruses and the most closely related reference strain, genotype D2, was 3.1% for the N gene and 2.6% for the H gene. Therefore, Ugandan viruses should be considered a new, proposed genotype (d10). This new sequence information will expand the utility of molecular epidemiologic techniques for describing measles transmission patterns in eastern Africa.

Sequence analysis was conducted on the hemagglutinin (H) and nucleoprotein (N) genes from nine wild-type measles viruses (MV) isolated during an outbreak that occurred in Morocco during 1998 and 1999. The sequence data showed that all the viruses were closely related to each other and were members of genotype C2. Genotype C2 has been shown to be circulating in Europe, and the sequences of the Moroccan isolates were most closely related to the sequences of recent viral isolates from western Europe. This report presents the first molecular epidemiological study of circulating wild-type measles viruses in Morocco. Knowledge of the indigenous strain of measles virus circulating in Morocco will help to describe viral transmission pathways and should contribute to efforts to evaluate the effectiveness of future vaccination campaigns., (Copyright 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

From 1997 to 2001, sequence data from 55 clinical specimens were obtained from confirmed measles cases in the United States, representing 21 outbreaks and 34 sporadic cases. Sequence analysis indicated the presence of 11 of the recognized genotypes. The most common genotypes detected were genotype D6, usually identified from imported cases from Europe, and genotype D5, associated with importations from Japan. A number of viruses belonging to genotype D4 were imported from India and Pakistan. Overall, viral genotypes were determined for 13 chains of transmission with an unknown source of virus, and seven different genotypes were identified. Therefore, the diversity of Measles virus genotypes observed in the United States from 1997 to 2001 reflected multiple imported sources of virus and indicated that no strain of measles is endemic in the United States.

During a resurgence of measles in São Paulo, Brazil, in 1997, >40,000 cases (peak incidence rate of 246/100,000 inhabitants) and 42 measles-related deaths were reported. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and nucleotide sequencing were used to analyze specimens from patients who had typical clinical measles infection during this outbreak and from six patients who had had measles in 1995 and 1996. Although wild-type measles viruses (genotypes D5 and D6) were present in São Paulo before this resurgence, we detected only D6 viruses. The genotype D6 viruses isolated during this outbreak had identical sequences to genotype D6 viruses isolated in other parts of Brazil and South America in 1997 and 1998, suggesting that a single chain of transmission was responsible. We also identified genotype A viruses in two vaccine-associated cases from 1995 and 1996. Our findings extend the knowledge of the circulation patterns of measles virus in South America, contributing to measles control efforts in the Americas.

Genetic characterization was conducted on 17 wild-type measles viruses isolated near Hanoi, Vietnam, during 1998 as well as on eight viruses isolated in the Hunan, Hainan, Shandong, and Anhui provinces of the People's Republic of China during 1995, 1998, and 1999. Previous studies had shown that, compared to wild-type measles viruses found in other parts of the world, wild-type viruses from China were genetically distinct and comprised a new clade of viruses, clade H. In this study, sequence analyses of the nucleotides coding for the COOH terminal 150 amino acids of the nucleoprotein (N) and the entire hemagglutinin (H) protein indicated that although all of the viruses from Vietnam were members of clade H, they were clearly distinct from the Chinese viruses. With the exception of MVi/Beijing.China/94/1, the Vietnamese viruses differed from all of the Chinese viruses by at least 3.5 and 2.5% at the nucleotide level for the N and H genes, respectively. These data suggest that clade H should be divided into two genotypes with the Chinese viruses placed in genotype H1 and the Vietnamese viruses in genotype H2. Sequence analysis of measles viruses imported into the United States from either China or Vietnam demonstrated that this designation of genotypes will be helpful in future measles surveillance activities.