ABSTRACT
Objective: Influenza is considered as an emerging disease until today
The present study was undertaken to determine the prevalent genotypes of Influenza A virus in Malaysia
Methods: Influenza A virus was identified from respiratory specimens by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction [rRT-PCR]
Phylogenetic analysis of the identified isolates was performed and genotypes were detected
Results: A total number of 505 throat swabs and nasopharyngeal aspirates were examined by rRT-PCR at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre [UKMMC] in which 65[12.87%] were positive for influenza A
The identified isolates were successfully genotyped by phylogenetic analysis. The identified influenza A genotypes were: H1N1 [42], H3N2 [20] and H5N1 [3]
Conclusion: The findings indicated that 3 genotypes were circulating in Malaysia during 2011 in which H1N1 was the predominant. Results added new genotype [H5N1] identification record in Malaysia that may be added in data base of WHO and CDC