Genetic characterization of measles virus strains isolated during an epidemic cluster in Puglia, Italy 2006–2007

doi:10.1186/1743-422X-4-90

Virology Journal

Volume 4

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Chironna M
Prato R
Sallustio A
Martinelli D
Germinario C
Lopalco P
Quarto M

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Prato R
Sallustio A
Martinelli D
Germinario C
Lopalco P
Quarto M
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Genetic characterization of measles virus strains isolated during an epidemic cluster in Puglia, Italy 2006–2007

Maria Chironna¹^,3 , Rosa Prato²^,3 , Anna Sallustio¹ , Domenico Martinelli¹^,3 , Cinzia Germinario¹^,3 , Pierluigi Lopalco¹^,4 and Michele Quarto¹^,3

¹Hygiene Section, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari, Policlinico Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy

²Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e del Lavoro, Hygiene Section, University of Foggia, Italy

³Osservatorio Epidemiologico Regione Puglia, Coordinating Centre for Notifiable Diseases, Bari, Italy

⁴European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Stockholm, Sweden

author email corresponding author email

Virology Journal 2007, 4:90doi:10.1186/1743-422X-4-90


Published:	21 September 2007

Abstract

The genetic characterization of wild-type measles strains isolated during an epidemic cluster of measles occurred in Puglia (South Italy), between November 2006 and January 2007, was performed. Measles virus (MV) detection was carried out by a nested RT-PCR on 8 of 18 total cases. The viruses were analyzed using the standard genotyping protocols. The N gene sequences of the strains from outbreak were identical to each other, and sequence analysis revealed that the viruses belonged to genotype B3, subgroup B3.1, never identified before in Italy. An importation of measles B3.1 strains from Africa was hypothesized. Molecular surveillance will help to monitor the progress in measles elimination.