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Particle Agglutination Method for Poliovirus Identification
Published on: April 20, 2011
Molecular characterisation of two mumps virus genotypes circulating during an epidemic in Lithuania from 1998 to 2000
T Tecle1, A Mickiené, B Johansson
1Department of Clinical Virology, Huddinge University Hospital, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
Abstract:
An epidemic of mumps in Lithuania started in December 1998 and continued until May 2000. The total registered number of cases was about 11.000 of a total of 3,7 million inhabitants in Lithuania (29,7 cases/10,000). Virus-containing samples were collected from 80 patients treated at the hospital of Kaunas from October 1999 until the end of the epidemic. Out of the 80 patients with parotitis, meningitis was observed in 11 patients and orchitis in 22 of 69 male patients. Twenty-seven virus strains were genotyped by nucleotide sequencing of the small hydrophobic (SH) protein gene, and the 57 amino acid sequences of the gene were deduced. Twenty-five virus strains belonged to the C genotype and two were of the D genotype. By phylogenetic analysis the virus strains causing meningitis grouped in a separate cluster, designated C1, within the C genotype. Another group of ten of the 25 genotype C strains exhibited an amino acid triplet at amino acid positions 28 to 30 of the protein, consisting of valine, alanine and serine, instead of the previously recognised valine, valine and serine combination of genotype C. The amino acid alanine at position 29 was found in combination with the amino acid serine at position 48. This variant was designated C2 and it was associated with parotitis. The amino acid alanine at position 29 and serine in position 48 of the C2 genotype may constitute a marker of low neurovirulence compared to other genotype C strains.
Insights
Mumps outbreaks can be severe, causing complications like meningitis and orchitis. Genotyping revealed specific C genotype variants linked to disease severity, potentially indicating lower neurovirulence.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Epidemiology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- A significant mumps epidemic occurred in Lithuania from December 1998 to May 2000, affecting approximately 11,000 individuals.
- Mumps complications, including meningitis and orchitis, were observed in a notable proportion of cases during this epidemic.
Purpose of the Study:
- To genotype mumps virus strains responsible for the Lithuanian epidemic.
- To investigate potential correlations between specific viral genotypes and clinical manifestations, such as meningitis and orchitis.
- To identify molecular markers associated with mumps virus virulence.
Main Methods:
- Virus samples were collected from 80 patients with parotitis in Kaunas.
- Nucleotide sequencing of the small hydrophobic (SH) protein gene was performed on 27 virus strains.
- Phylogenetic analysis was used to determine viral genotypes and their relationships.
Main Results:
- Twenty-five of the 27 genotyped strains belonged to genotype C, and two belonged to genotype D.
- Meningitis cases were associated with a distinct cluster (C1) within genotype C.
- A novel variant of genotype C, designated C2, was identified with a specific amino acid substitution (Val-Ala-Ser) and was associated with parotitis, potentially indicating lower neurovirulence.
Conclusions:
- The study identified specific genotype C variants (C1 and C2) of the mumps virus circulating during the Lithuanian epidemic.
- The C2 genotype, characterized by an alanine at position 29 and serine at position 48 in the SH protein, may serve as a marker for reduced neurovirulence.
- Genotyping provides valuable insights into the molecular epidemiology and virulence factors of mumps virus.
