ABSTRACT
The study investigated the genetic diversity of human astroviruses (HAstVs) detected in children hospitalized with gastroenteritis in Italy in 2008-2009. A total of 1321 faecal samples were collected in Parma (northern Italy), Bari (southern Italy), and Palermo (Sicily) and screened for the presence of HAstVs. RT-PCR amplification of a portion at the 5'-end of ORF2 allowed the detection of HAstVs in 3·95% of the patients. Four different genotypes (HAstV-1, HAstV-2, HAstV-4, HAstV-5) were found to be circulating during the study period, with HAstV-1 being the predominant type. Interestingly, a novel lineage, proposed as HAstV-2d, was found to have emerged in Parma in 2009. Investigating the genetic variability of HAstVs will be important for understanding the epidemiological trends and evolution of these viruses.
Subject(s)
Astroviridae Infections/epidemiology , Astroviridae Infections/virology , Mamastrovirus/genetics , Population Surveillance , Child, Preschool , Feces/virology , Genotype , Humans , Infant , Italy/epidemiology , Mamastrovirus/isolation & purification , PrevalenceABSTRACT
Novel lineages of human astrovirus (HAstV) types 2, 2c, and 2d have been identified. Upon sequencing of the 3' end of the genome, the type 2c and 2d HAstVs were found to be open reading frame 1b (ORF1b)-ORF2 recombinant, with ORF1b being derived from type 3 and type 1 HAstVs, respectively. An ORF2 interlineage recombinant strain, 2c/2b, was also identified.
Subject(s)
Genetic Heterogeneity , Mamastrovirus/classification , Mamastrovirus/genetics , Recombination, Genetic , Cluster Analysis , Humans , Molecular Sequence Data , Open Reading Frames , Phylogeny , RNA, Viral/genetics , Sequence Analysis, DNAABSTRACT
Infection by a novel canine astrovirus was associated with gastroenteritis in two dogs. The virus displayed 70.3 to 73.9% amino acid identity to other canine astroviruses in the full-length capsid. Specific antibodies were detected in the convalescent-phase sera of the dogs, indicating seroconversion. Also, the virus appeared weakly related antigenically to the prototype canine astrovirus isolate ITA/2008/Bari.
Subject(s)
Astroviridae Infections/veterinary , Dog Diseases/diagnosis , Dog Diseases/virology , Gastroenteritis/veterinary , Mamastrovirus/classification , Mamastrovirus/isolation & purification , Animals , Antibodies, Viral/blood , Astroviridae Infections/diagnosis , Astroviridae Infections/pathology , Astroviridae Infections/virology , Capsid Proteins/genetics , Cluster Analysis , Dog Diseases/pathology , Dogs , Gastroenteritis/diagnosis , Gastroenteritis/pathology , Gastroenteritis/virology , Molecular Sequence Data , Phylogeny , RNA, Viral/genetics , Sequence Analysis, DNAABSTRACT
Norovirus is a common cause of gastroenteritis outbreaks associated with consumption of raw shellfish. The majority of norovirus infections worldwide are due to genogroup II noroviruses. Bivalve molluscs (mussels, clams and oysters) at the end of the commercial chain, the points of purchase, were sampled between 2005 and 2008 in several retail points in Apulia, Italy, and screened by a semi-nested RT-PCR specific for genogroup II noroviruses. Noroviral RNA was detected in 12.1% of the samples, with lower frequency being observed in samples obtained from hypermarkets (8.1%) rather than in samples from open-air markets and fish shops (17.6% and 16.2%, respectively). By sequence analysis, the strains were characterized as norovirus variants GII.4/2004 and GII.b/Hilversum, which were both circulating in Italy in the same time-span.
