Recent measles viral activity in Uruguai: serological and genetic approaches

In the summer 1999, a measles outbreak occurred in Uruguai. During this outbreak 58 cases were recorded, 36 of which were laboratory confirmed as positive for measles virus (MV) IgM. The cases occurred in touristic places (Montevideo and Maldonado) predominantly among health facilities and tourist service personnel. Urine specimens collected between days 1 and 4 after the onset of the rash from seven cases were analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and nested PCR with primers specific for the carboxyl-terminal region of the nucleoprotein (N) gene. Three of these specimens/cases were positive for MV. Sequencing of 300 nucleotides (nt) of PCR products corresponding to a part of the carboxyl-terminal region of the MV N gene detected in these specimens MV of D6 genotype. The same nucleotide sequences and the same genotype were also previously observed for MV isolates from the 1997 epidemic in Brazil and the 1998 epidemic in Argentina, demonstrating that the D6 genotype was, and may be still circulating in South America.