engleski

Whole genome characterization of an equine-like Rotavirus A reassortant G3P[8] strain in hospitalized children in Croatia

Rotavirus infections are a leading cause of acute gastroenteritis in humans and animals. Rotaviruses are divided into nine species (genus Rotavirus, family Reoviridae) among which Rotavirus A (RVA) has the greatest impact on human health, targeting mostly children under the age of five years. RVA classification is based on genotype determination of at least two genome segments (VP7 and VP4) or a genotype constellation of the whole genome. Since the genome of RVA is segmented and coinfections with different RVA strains are not rare, new strains can emerge through the genome reassortment ; human-animal reassortants as well. As a part of a research on molecular epidemiology and zoonotic potential of RVA in Croatian ecosystem, herein we screened 188 stool specimens of hospitalised patients (mostly children under the age of five years) infected with RVA from Zagreb, Split and Osijek hospitals in order to genetically characterise the strains circulating in Croatia. Using semi-nested multiplex PCR in combination with Sanger sequencing and phylogenetic analysis, genotype combination G3P[8] was identified as the most common one circulating among paediatric population. Around 50% of the present G3 positive samples were intergenogroup reassortants with equine- like G3 genotype. The whole genome of this atypical strain (N= 3), detected in Croatia for the first time, was obtained by the next generation sequencing revealing VP7 genome segment of equine origin in combination with a typical human DS1-like genome constellation and high genetic resemblance with strains of the same genotype detected in Europe. Monitoring and genetic characterization of RVAs circulating in paediatric patients in Croatia will be continued in the following years in order to determine geographic and seasonal dynamics of this emerging and potentially pandemic equine-like G3 reassortant strain.

rotavirus A, reassortant, equine-like G3 genotype, next generation sequencing

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