Whole genome analyses of DS-1-like Rotavirus A strains detected in children with acute diarrhoea in southern Mozambique suggest several reassortment events.

We report the first whole genome constellations of Mozambican rotavirus A strains detected between 2012 and 2013 in the Mavalane General Hospital in Maputo city and Manhiça District Hospital in the Manhiça district. Consensus sequences for ten DS-1-like strains (G2P[4] and G8P[4]) were identified with an Illumina Miseq platform using cDNA prepared from dsRNA extracted from stool samples, without genome amplification or prior adaptation to cell culture. Comparison of previously reported genotyping results and the consensus sequences described in this study, indicated that the genotype primers specific for G12 and P[4] might require revision. Phylogenetic analyses indicated diversity among the G2P[4] Mozambican strains and suggested reassortment between G2P[4] and G8P[4] Mozambican strains, as well as the intragenogroup reassortment of all the genome segments encoding VP1, 2, 3 and 6 for strain RVA/Human-wt/MOZ/0045/2012G8P[4]. These results highlight the necessity to determine whole genome constellations to confirm surveillance data in Africa and to monitor the growing diversity in DS-1-like strains.