Spread trend analysis on reassortant of rotavirus G9P8-E2 in China

  Objective  To study the full sequence molecular and evolutionary characteristics of rotavirus G9P8 in China.

  Methods  A total of 64 rotavirus G9P8 positive samples collected in 2018 (32 from Shenzhen of Guangdong province and Changchun of Jilin province, respectively) were amplified by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

  Results  The whole genome segments of 54 of rotavirus group A (RVA) G9P8 isolates (30 isolates from Shenzhen and 24 isolates from Changchun) were amplified successfully. Sequence analysis showed that among the 54 RVA G9P8 strains, there were 28 Wa-like strains of G9P8-E1 type (G9-P8-I1-R1-C1-M1-A1-N1-T1-E1-H1), 26 NSP4-segment reassortant G9P8-E2 strains (G9-P8-I1-R1-C1-M1-A1-N1-T1-E2-H1). The reassortant strains in Shenzhen and Changchun accounted for 60.0% and 33.3%, respectively.

  Conclusion  RVA G9P8-E2 reassortant has become the predominant strain in RVA detected in the south and north of China in 2018, which was more obvious in southern China than in northern China. It is speculated that reassortant of RVA G9P8-E2 might have widely spread in China.