Genetic characteristics of the wild measles viruses isolated in the North, Middle and High-Plateax regions

ABSTRACT

17 wild-type measles strains were isolated from both sporadic cases and 4 outbreaks in the Northern, Centre, and Highland areas of Vietnam in 2000-2002. The sequence analysis of 450 nucleotides of the most variable COOH- terminus of N gene showed that established in the year 2000 with the representative of MVi/Beijing.CHI/9411, genotype H2 (Clade H) continued circulating in the North and Highland of Vietnam. This study also revealed that wild-type measles strains circulating in the Center fell into genotype HI (Clade H) with the representative of MVi/Hunan.CHI/93. It was the first time that genotype HI was discovered In Vietnam. The difference within each genotype is bigger, nevertheless, no more than 3.0% at nucleotide level. The wild-type strain isolated in Lai Chau belonging to genotype D5 (Clade D) has imported into Vietnam from Thailand was under consideration.