RESUMO
To study genetic evolution of Moroccan influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus strains, we conducted a molecular characterization of the hemagglutinin gene subunit 1 (HA1) of 36 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus strains. The stains were collected from patients in Rabat and Casablanca during two influenza seasons 2009-2010 and 2010-2011. Nucleotide and amino acid sequences of 14 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus strains from 2009 to 2010 were ~97 and 99 %, respectively, similar to the reference strain A/California/07/2009 (H1N1). Phylogenetic analysis of 22 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus strains from 2010 to 2011 revealed a co-circulation of three well-described different genetic groups. Most important, none of the identified groups showed significant changes at the antigenic site of the virus HA1 subunit which may alter the efficacy of California/07/2009 (H1N1) vaccine.
Assuntos
Evolução Molecular , Glicoproteínas de Hemaglutininação de Vírus da Influenza/genética , Vírus da Influenza A Subtipo H1N1/genética , Influenza Humana/virologia , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Antígenos Virais/genética , Análise por Conglomerados , Epitopos/genética , Genótipo , Humanos , Vírus da Influenza A Subtipo H1N1/isolamento & purificação , Influenza Humana/epidemiologia , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Marrocos/epidemiologia , Filogenia , RNA Viral/genética , Análise de Sequência de DNARESUMO
INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of West Nile Virus infection in the southern provinces of Morocco. METHODOLOGY: A total of 250 sera, collected during 2012 in the province of Dakhla, were analyzed by microneutralisation assay. RESULTS: WNV-neutralizing antibodies were detected in 13 samples (5.2%). The participants with WNV-specific antibodies were significantly younger than the rest of the population (p = 0.009). The positivity rate was higher among women (6.3%) than men (3.6%) (p = 0.26). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first serological evidence of WNV infection among humans in the southern provinces of Morocco.