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. 2016 Aug:81:34-42.
doi: 10.1016/j.jcv.2016.05.018. Epub 2016 Jun 1.

Molecular detection and genetic characterization of circulating measles virus in northern Italy

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Molecular detection and genetic characterization of circulating measles virus in northern Italy

Giulia Piccirilli et al. J Clin Virol. 2016 Aug.

Abstract

Background: Laboratory diagnosis of measles virus (MV) infection and genetic characterization of circulating MV play an essential role in measles surveillance, allowing proper interventions to interrupt endemic transmission.

Objectives: We describe results obtained using serological and molecular methods to confirm MV infection among suspected cases reported in a large region in the north of Italy during 2010-2014 and the genotyping of the MV strains detected.

Study design: Three hundred seventy-two samples (361 urine and 11 oral fluids) were tested for MV-RNA detection. In 281 cases, the serological results for MV-IgM detection were also available.

Results: A total of 276 cases were classified as confirmed measles and MV-RNA detection resulted positive for 239/276 cases. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed sporadic cases of genotypes D9 and different circulations of endemic MV strains (D8, D4 and B3).

Conclusions: This data suggests that there is still an unvaccinated part of the population maintaining the endemic circulation of MV in Italy.

Keywords: Genetic characterization; Measles virus; Molecular methods; Sampling time; Serological diagnosis.

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