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Characterization of antigenically and genetically similar influenza C viruses isolated in Japan during the 1999–2000 season

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2004

Y. MATSUZAKI
Affiliation:
Department of Bacteriology, Yamagata University School of Medicine, Iida-Nishi, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
S. TAKAO
Affiliation:
Hiroshima Prefectural Institute of Health and Environment, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 743-0007, Japan
S. SHIMADA
Affiliation:
Saitama Institute of Public Health, Kami-Ohkubo, Saitama 338-0824, Japan
K. MIZUTA
Affiliation:
Yamagata Prefectural Institute of Public Health, Toka-Machi, Yamagata 990-0031, Japan
K. SUGAWARA
Affiliation:
Department of Bacteriology, Yamagata University School of Medicine, Iida-Nishi, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
E. TAKASHITA
Affiliation:
Department of Bacteriology, Yamagata University School of Medicine, Iida-Nishi, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
Y. MURAKI
Affiliation:
Department of Bacteriology, Yamagata University School of Medicine, Iida-Nishi, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
S. HONGO
Affiliation:
Department of Bacteriology, Yamagata University School of Medicine, Iida-Nishi, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
H. NISHIMURA
Affiliation:
Virus Research Center, Clinical Research Division, Sendai National Hospital, Sendai 983-8520, Japan
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Abstract

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Between October 1999 and May 2000, a total of 28 strains of influenza C virus were isolated in four Japanese prefectures: Yamagata, Miyagi, Saitama and Hiroshima. Antigenic analysis showed that the 28 isolates were divided into three distinct antigenic groups, and viruses belonging to different antigenic groups were co-circulating in each of the four prefectures. Phylogenetic analysis of the seven protein genes demonstrated that the viruses having a similar genome composition spread in various areas of Japan during the same period. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis showed that most of the influenza C viruses isolated in various areas of the world between the 1970s and 1980s were closely related to the contemporary Japanese viruses in all gene segments. These observations suggest that the influenza C viruses cause epidemics in some communities during the same season and that antigenically and genetically similar influenza C viruses spread throughout Japan and may be circulating worldwide.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
2004 Cambridge University Press