Molecular Epidemiology of Classic, MLB, and VA Astroviruses in Children with Acute Gastroenteritis, 2014–2021: Emergence of MLB3 Strain in Japan
ABSTRACT Human astroviruses (HAstVs) are important causative pathogens of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in children worldwide. MLB and VA HAstVs, which are genetically distinct from the previously known classic HAstVs, have been detected since 2008. To investigate the role of HAstVs in AGE, we conduct...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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American Society for Microbiology
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Microbiology Spectrum |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.00700-23 |
| _version_ | 1797803418878738432 |
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| author | Shoko Okitsu Pattara Khamrin Toshiyuki Hikita Yuko Shimizu-Onda Aksara Thongprachum Satoshi Hayakawa Niwat Maneekarn Hiroshi Ushijima |
| author_facet | Shoko Okitsu Pattara Khamrin Toshiyuki Hikita Yuko Shimizu-Onda Aksara Thongprachum Satoshi Hayakawa Niwat Maneekarn Hiroshi Ushijima |
| author_sort | Shoko Okitsu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Human astroviruses (HAstVs) are important causative pathogens of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in children worldwide. MLB and VA HAstVs, which are genetically distinct from the previously known classic HAstVs, have been detected since 2008. To investigate the role of HAstVs in AGE, we conducted molecular detection and characterization of HAstVs circulating in children with AGE in Japan from 2014 to 2021. Out of 2,841 stool samples, HAstVs were detected in 130 (4.6%). MLB1 was the predominant genotype detected (45.4%), followed by HAstV1 (39.2%), MLB2 (7.4%), VA2 (3.1%), HAstV3 (2.3%), HAstV4, HAstV5, and MLB3 (0.8% each). The results demonstrated that HAstV infection in pediatric patients in Japan was dominated by the two major genotypes MLB1 and HAstV1, with a small proportion of other genotypes. The overall infection rates of MLB and VA HAstVs were higher than those of classic HAstVs. The HAstV1 strains detected in this study belonged solely to lineage 1a. The rare MLB3 genotype was detected for the first time in Japan. All three HAstV3 strains belonged to lineage 3c based on the ORF2 nucleotide sequence and were shown to be recombinant strains. IMPORTANCE HAstVs are one of the pathogens of viral AGE and are considered the third most common viral agents of AGE after rotavirus and norovirus. HAstVs are also suspected to be the causative agents of encephalitis or meningitis in immunocompromised patients and elderly persons. However, little is known about the epidemiology of HAstVs in Japan, especially that of MLBs and VA HAstVs. This study demonstrated epidemiological features and molecular characterization of human astroviruses encompassing a 7-year study period in Japan. This study highlights the genetic diversity of HAstV circulating in pediatric patients with acute AGE in Japan. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T05:20:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c772b3b9853e49eeac70bf1548a2fb50 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2165-0497 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T05:20:30Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | American Society for Microbiology |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microbiology Spectrum |
| spelling | doaj.art-c772b3b9853e49eeac70bf1548a2fb502023-06-15T13:18:32ZengAmerican Society for MicrobiologyMicrobiology Spectrum2165-04972023-06-0111310.1128/spectrum.00700-23Molecular Epidemiology of Classic, MLB, and VA Astroviruses in Children with Acute Gastroenteritis, 2014–2021: Emergence of MLB3 Strain in JapanShoko Okitsu0Pattara Khamrin1Toshiyuki Hikita2Yuko Shimizu-Onda3Aksara Thongprachum4Satoshi Hayakawa5Niwat Maneekarn6Hiroshi Ushijima7Division of Microbiology, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, JapanDepartment of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, ThailandHikita Pediatric Clinic, Gunma, JapanDivision of Microbiology, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, JapanCenter of Excellence in Emerging and Re-emerging Diarrheal Viruses, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, ThailandDivision of Microbiology, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, JapanDepartment of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, ThailandDivision of Microbiology, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, JapanABSTRACT Human astroviruses (HAstVs) are important causative pathogens of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in children worldwide. MLB and VA HAstVs, which are genetically distinct from the previously known classic HAstVs, have been detected since 2008. To investigate the role of HAstVs in AGE, we conducted molecular detection and characterization of HAstVs circulating in children with AGE in Japan from 2014 to 2021. Out of 2,841 stool samples, HAstVs were detected in 130 (4.6%). MLB1 was the predominant genotype detected (45.4%), followed by HAstV1 (39.2%), MLB2 (7.4%), VA2 (3.1%), HAstV3 (2.3%), HAstV4, HAstV5, and MLB3 (0.8% each). The results demonstrated that HAstV infection in pediatric patients in Japan was dominated by the two major genotypes MLB1 and HAstV1, with a small proportion of other genotypes. The overall infection rates of MLB and VA HAstVs were higher than those of classic HAstVs. The HAstV1 strains detected in this study belonged solely to lineage 1a. The rare MLB3 genotype was detected for the first time in Japan. All three HAstV3 strains belonged to lineage 3c based on the ORF2 nucleotide sequence and were shown to be recombinant strains. IMPORTANCE HAstVs are one of the pathogens of viral AGE and are considered the third most common viral agents of AGE after rotavirus and norovirus. HAstVs are also suspected to be the causative agents of encephalitis or meningitis in immunocompromised patients and elderly persons. However, little is known about the epidemiology of HAstVs in Japan, especially that of MLBs and VA HAstVs. This study demonstrated epidemiological features and molecular characterization of human astroviruses encompassing a 7-year study period in Japan. This study highlights the genetic diversity of HAstV circulating in pediatric patients with acute AGE in Japan.https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.00700-23astrovirusJapanchildrenacute gastroenteritisepidemiology |
| spellingShingle | Shoko Okitsu Pattara Khamrin Toshiyuki Hikita Yuko Shimizu-Onda Aksara Thongprachum Satoshi Hayakawa Niwat Maneekarn Hiroshi Ushijima Molecular Epidemiology of Classic, MLB, and VA Astroviruses in Children with Acute Gastroenteritis, 2014–2021: Emergence of MLB3 Strain in Japan Microbiology Spectrum astrovirus Japan children acute gastroenteritis epidemiology |
| title | Molecular Epidemiology of Classic, MLB, and VA Astroviruses in Children with Acute Gastroenteritis, 2014–2021: Emergence of MLB3 Strain in Japan |
| title_full | Molecular Epidemiology of Classic, MLB, and VA Astroviruses in Children with Acute Gastroenteritis, 2014–2021: Emergence of MLB3 Strain in Japan |
| title_fullStr | Molecular Epidemiology of Classic, MLB, and VA Astroviruses in Children with Acute Gastroenteritis, 2014–2021: Emergence of MLB3 Strain in Japan |
| title_full_unstemmed | Molecular Epidemiology of Classic, MLB, and VA Astroviruses in Children with Acute Gastroenteritis, 2014–2021: Emergence of MLB3 Strain in Japan |
| title_short | Molecular Epidemiology of Classic, MLB, and VA Astroviruses in Children with Acute Gastroenteritis, 2014–2021: Emergence of MLB3 Strain in Japan |
| title_sort | molecular epidemiology of classic mlb and va astroviruses in children with acute gastroenteritis 2014 2021 emergence of mlb3 strain in japan |
| topic | astrovirus Japan children acute gastroenteritis epidemiology |
| url | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.00700-23 |
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