Srpski Arhiv za Celokupno Lekarstvo (Jan 2015)

Influenza B viruses in the population of province of Vojvodina during the 2012/2013 season: Differentiation of B/Yamagata and B/Victoria lineages by real-time RT-PCR, antigenic and phylogenetic characterization

  • Radovanov Jelena,
  • Milošević Vesna,
  • Hrnjaković-Cvjetković Ivana,
  • Ristić Mioljub,
  • Đilas Milan,
  • Nikolić Nataša,
  • Patić Aleksandra,
  • Kovačević Gordana,
  • Jovanović-Galović Aleksandra,
  • Petrović Tamaš,
  • Mikić Sandra Stefan

DOI
https://doi.org/10.2298/SARH1508429R
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 143, no. 7-8
pp. 429 – 437

Abstract

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Introduction. At present, two phylogenetically distinct influenza B virus lineages, B/Yamagata and B/ Victoria, co-circulate worldwide and can cause significant morbidity and mortality. Objective. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalences of two influenza B virus lineages in the population of Vojvodina and to identify their antigenic and phylogenetic properties. Methods. A total of 369 and 334 nasopharyngeal, or nasal/throat swab samples, collected during the 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 seasons, respectively, were tested using specific singleplex influenza A, influenza B, influenza B/Yamagata and influenza B/Victoria real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays. Antigenic and genetic testing were done by hemagglutination inhibition assay and hemagglutinin and neuraminidase gene sequence analysis, respectively. Results. During the 2012/2013 season, influenza B viruses were present in 53.4% (101/189) of influenza positive samples. The B/Yamagata-like viruses (81.2%) significantly predominated over the B/Victoria-like viruses (18.8%). Comparing to B/Victoria-like positive patients, among B/Yamagata-like positive patients, children 5-14 years of age were significantly more represented (5.3% vs. 35.4%, respectively), as well as patients with mild form of illness (15.8% vs. 45.1%, respectively). The results of sequence analysis and antigenic testing showed that tested viruses were not closely related to B/Wisconsin/1/2010, the vaccine virus for 2012/2013. During the 2013/2014 season influenza B viruses were not detected. Conclusion. The results of this study confirmed the health significance of influenza B viruses and indicated that B/Yamagata-like viruses were significantly more prevalent than B/Victoria lineage viruses, during the 2012/2013 season. They also showed a sub-optimal match between the tested viruses and the vaccine virus for season 2012/2013. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. TR31084]

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