@article{4fcf1012ef2f4ee0aef9aa317922afdd,
title = "Genetic analysis of Asian measles virus strains - New endemic genotype in Nepal",
abstract = "In many parts of Asia measles virus (MV) continues to be endemic. However, little is known about the genetic characteristics of viruses circulating on this continent. This study reports the molecular epidemiological analysis based on the entire nucleocapsid (N) and hemagglutinin (H) genes of the first isolates from Nepal and Taiwan, as well as of recent MV strains from India, Indonesia, and China. Four isolates collected in various regions in Nepal during 1999 belonged to a new genotype, tentatively called D8. Another Nepalese isolate and one from India belonged to genotype D4. The diversity of the Nepalese strains indicated that measles continues to be endemic in this country. The isolate from Taiwan grouped with D3 viruses and one Chinese strain isolated in The Netherlands was assigned to the previously described clade H, known to be endemic in Mainland China. Molecular characterization emerges as an important tool for monitoring virus endemicity and vaccination efforts.",
keywords = "Asia, Genotype distribution, Measles virus, Molecular epidemiology",
author = "Truong, {Anh T.} and Mulders, {Mick N.} and Gautam, {Dinesh C.} and Wim Ammerlaan and {De Swart}, {Rik L.} and King, {Chwan Chuen} and Osterhaus, {Albert D.M.E.} and Muller, {Claude P.}",
note = "Funding Information: We gratefully acknowledge the technical assistance of M.W.G. van der Bildt, the support of the WHO regional staff in Nepal, and the contribution of the staff from hospitals involved in virus collection: Drs. S.M.S. Pradhan, S.P. Gautam, and Sulochana from the Kathmandu Veterinary Hospital; Prof. Dr. N.R. Tuladher, Dr. C. Sharma from the Teaching Hospital of Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu; Dr. H. Dixit from the Kanti Children Hospital, Kathmandu; Dr. P.M.E. Wertheim-van Dillen, Dr. J. Weel, Department of Medical Microbiology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam and Dr. A. Leentvaar-Kuijpers, Municipal Health Service, Amsterdam. Dr. Li Jin is acknowledged for sharing the N gene sequence of Manchester.UNK/94/140 before publication. This work has been supported by grants from the Minist{\`e}re des Affaires {\'E}trang{\`e}res, Minist{\`e}re du Commerce Ext{\'e}rieur, Minist{\`e}re de la Coop{\'e}ration, Minist{\`e}re de la Sant{\'e}, Recherche Biom{\'e}dicale a.s.b.l., and the Centre de Recherche Public – Sant{\'e} of Luxembourg. A.T.T. was supported by a post-doctoral fellowship of the Minist{\`e}re de l{\textquoteright}{\'E}ducation Nationale of Luxembourg.",
year = "2001",
month = jul,
day = "1",
doi = "10.1016/S0168-1702(01)00255-6",
language = "English",
volume = "76",
pages = "71--78",
journal = "Virus Research",
issn = "0168-1702",
publisher = "Elsevier",
number = "1",
}