Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (Jun 2007)

First detection of a human astrovirus type 8 in a child with diarrhea in Belém, Brazil: comparison with other strains worldwide and identification of possible three lineages

  • Yvone B Gabbay,
  • Alexandre C Linhares,
  • Darleise S Oliveira,
  • Lilian S Nakamura,
  • Joana D'Arc P Mascarenhas,
  • Rosa Helena P Gusmão,
  • Marcos B Heinemann,
  • Olinda Macêdo,
  • José Paulo G Leite

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 102, no. 4
pp. 531 – 534

Abstract

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This study describes the genetic relationships of the first human astrovirus type-8 (HAstV-8) detected in Belém-Brazil, during a public hospital-based study. This strain was compared with other HAstV-8 strains identified elsewhere which have sequences available at GeneBank. The regions ORF1a (primers Mon348/Mon340) and ORF2 (primers Mon269/Mon270) were analyzed by nucleotide sequencing and a high similarity rate was observed among the Belém strain and other HAstV-8 strains. In ORF1a, homology values of 93-100% were detected, and in ORF2 96-99%. Considering the sequence variation (7%) observed in ORF2 region, it was suggested that HAstV-8 strains could be divided in three different lineages.

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