Objective: To analyze the genetic characterizations of wild type measles viruses caused the measles outbreak in Xinjiang.
Methods: Vero/Slam cell were used for measles viruses isolation from the specimens collected from measles outbreaks patients. Fragment of 676 nucleotide acids of the carboxylend of nucleoprotein gene were amplified using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method and then the PCR products were directly sequenced and analyzed. Phylogenetic tree was constructed based on 450 nucleotide acids of the N-terminus of nucleoprotein gene, and homological analysis was performed at nucleotide acid level.
Results: 11 measles viruses were sequenced and all belonged to H1a subgenotype. The nucleotide difference was 0-0.2% between 11 Xinjiang isolates. And the nucleotide difference was 2.2%-2.4% between Xinjiang isolates and H1 genotype reference strain.
Conclusion: The Measles viruses causing the measles outbreak in Xinjiang were H1a subgenotype.