[Circulating pattern analysis for endemic measles viruses in mainland of China]

To analysis of the circulating pattern for endemic measles viruses in mainland of China (Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan were excluded) between 1993 and 2006.

To analyze the database of Measles laboratory network surveillance, and the database of virology surveillance of National laboratory for Measles in Chinese Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CCDC).

Total 748 positive measles isolates were available from 29 provinces of China. 743 were H1 genotypes, 1 was H2 genotype, 1 was A genotype and 3 were vaccine like A genotypes. Among H1 genotype, 684 were H1a subgenotypes, 50 were H1b subgenotypes, 9 were H1c subgenotypes. H1a was isolated from 29 provinces (Tibet and Hubei did not carry out virus isolation), H1b was isolated from 10 provinces, H1c was isolated from 4 provinces during 1993-1994. H1a became predominant subgenotype since 2000; H1b shrink annually, its circulating has been interrupted since 2006; H1c circulating has been interrupted since 1995.

Molecular epidemiology of measles viruses between 1993 and 2006 showed the character of genetic variation and the geographic distribution of the measles viruses in different years, and revealed that genotype H1 was the predominant indigenous measles virus genotype in mainland China and H1a became the predominant subgenotype in recent years.