BACKGROUND: Molecular characterization of measles viruses (MV) helps to identify transmission pathways of the virus and to document persistence or interruption of endemic virus circulation. In the Eastern Mediterranean Region, measles genotypes from only few countries have been documented. OBJECTIVES: This study reports the genetic characteristics of virus strains from recent measles outbreaks in Tunisia, Libya, Syria and Iran in 2002-2003. STUDY DESIGN: Virus sequences in the nucleoprotein gene were obtained by PCR amplification of virus isolates or serum samples. The sequences were compared to the reference ones for genotype identification and to other published sequences within the same genotype. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The Tunisian and Libyan epidemic strains belonged to genotype B3, they were closely related to each other and to isolates from Western Africa. The Syrian and Iranian viruses belonged to genotype D4, and differed from each other and from the other published sequences within this genotype. Our results provide valuable baseline and new tools for improved virological measles surveillance in the future, at country, regional and global levels.
BACKGROUND: Molecular characterization of measles viruses (MV) helps to identify transmission pathways of the virus and to document persistence or interruption of endemic virus circulation. In the Eastern Mediterranean Region, measles genotypes from only few countries have been documented. OBJECTIVES: This study reports the genetic characteristics of virus strains from recent measles outbreaks in Tunisia, Libya, Syria and Iran in 2002-2003. STUDY DESIGN: Virus sequences in the nucleoprotein gene were obtained by PCR amplification of virus isolates or serum samples. The sequences were compared to the reference ones for genotype identification and to other published sequences within the same genotype. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The Tunisian and Libyan epidemic strains belonged to genotype B3, they were closely related to each other and to isolates from Western Africa. The Syrian and Iranian viruses belonged to genotype D4, and differed from each other and from the other published sequences within this genotype. Our results provide valuable baseline and new tools for improved virological measles surveillance in the future, at country, regional and global levels.
Authors: G Gioula; A Papa; M Exindari; A Melidou; D Chatzidimitriou; D Karabaxoglou; A Antoniadis; V Kyriazopoulou Journal: Epidemiol Infect Date: 2006-10-12 Impact factor: 2.451
Authors: Bettina Bankamp; Lauren A Byrd-Leotis; Elena N Lopareva; Gibson K S Woo; Chunyu Liu; Youngmee Jee; Hinda Ahmed; Wilina W Lim; Nalini Ramamurty; Mick N Mulders; David Featherstone; William J Bellini; Paul A Rota Journal: J Clin Virol Date: 2013-06-24 Impact factor: 3.168
Authors: M Naseri; V Salimi; T Mokhtari-Azad; A Esteghamati; Mm Gooya; Sa Nadji; Z Noroozbabaei; Sm Marashi; Z Saadatmand; F Rezaei; R Hamkar; H Triki Journal: Iran J Public Health Date: 2011-03-31 Impact factor: 1.429
Authors: Jennifer Rota; Luis Lowe; Paul Rota; William Bellini; Susan Redd; Gustavo Dayan; Rob van Binnendijk; Susan Hahné; Graham Tipples; Jeannette Macey; Rita Espinoza; Drew Posey; Andrew Plummer; John Bateman; José Gudiño; Edith Cruz-Ramirez; Irma Lopez-Martinez; Luis Anaya-Lopez; Teneg Holy Akwar; Scott Giffin; Verónica Carrión; Ana Maria Bispo de Filippis; Andrea Vicari; Christina Tan; Bruce Wolf; Katherine Wytovich; Peter Borus; Francis Mbugua; Paul Chege; Janeth Kombich; Chantal Akoua-Koffi; Sheilagh Smit; Henry Bukenya; Josephine Bwogi; Frederick Ndhoga Baliraine; Jacques Kremer; Claude Muller; Sabine Santibanez Journal: Emerg Infect Dis Date: 2006-11 Impact factor: 6.883