Nationwide and long-term molecular epidemiologic studies of mumps viruses that circulated in Japan between 1986 and 2017.

In Japan, major mumps outbreaks still occur every 4-5 years because of low mumps vaccine coverage (30-40%) owing to the voluntary immunization program. Herein, to prepare for a regular immunization program, we aimed to reveal the nationwide and long-term molecular epidemiological trends of the mumps virus (MuV) in Japan. Additionally, we performed whole-genome sequencing (WGS) using next-generation sequencing to assess results from conventional genotyping using MuV sequences of the small-hydrophobic (SH) gene. We analyzed 1,064 SH gene sequences from mumps clinical samples and MuV isolates collected from 25 prefectures from 1986 to 2017. The results showed that six genotypes, namely B (110), F (1), G (900), H (3), J (41), and L (9) were identified, and the dominant genotypes changed every decade in Japan since the 1980s. Genotype G has been exclusively circulating since the early 2000s. Seven clades were identified for genotype G using SH sequence-based classification. To verify the results, we performed WGS on 77 representative isolates of genotype G using NGS and phylogenetically analyzed them. Five clades were identified with high bootstrap values and designated as Japanese clade (JPC)-1, -2, -3, -4, -5. JPC-1 and -3 accounted for over 80% of the total genotype G isolates (68.3 and 13.8%, respectively). Of these, JPC-2 and -5, were newly identified clades in Japan through this study. This is the first report describing the nationwide and long-term molecular epidemiology of MuV in Japan. The results provide information about Japanese domestic genotypes, which is essential for evaluating the mumps elimination progress in Japan after the forthcoming introduction of the mumps vaccine into Japan's regular immunization program. Furthermore, the study shows that WGS analysis using NGS is more accurate than results obtained from conventional SH sequence-based classification and is a powerful tool for accurate molecular epidemiology studies.

Distribution of Rotavirus Genotypes from the 2008/2009 to the 2015/2016 Season in Nara Prefecture, Japan.

This study was conducted to investigate the distribution of rotavirus genotypes in Nara Prefecture, Japan before and after the introduction of rotavirus vaccination in 2011. Since the 2011/2012 season, DS-1-like G1P[8] strains have been detected in Nara Prefecture, accounting for about half of all strains in the 2014/2015 season. During the 2015/2016 season, no DS-1-like G1P[8] strains were detected; G2P[4] was the predominant genotype.

Epidemiological Characteristics of Sapovirus and Human Astrovirus Detected among Children in Nara Prefecture, Japan, during the 2009/2010-2014/2015 Seasons.

The current study elucidated the epidemiological characteristics of sapovirus (SaV) and human astrovirus (HAstV) associated with gastroenteritis among children in regional populations of Nara Prefecture, Japan, during the 2009/2010-2014/2015 seasons. The SaV detection rate was 7.5% (71/948) according to reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. A high SaV detection rate of 13.5% was observed among children 4 years of age. The highest SaV detection rate was observed in June (19.2%), followed by July (11.1%). The detected SaV included 7 genotypes: GI.1, GI.2, GII.3, GII.1, GI.3, GII.2, and GV, in order of decreasing prevalence. In comparison, the HAstV detection rate was 4.2% (40/948). The HAstV detection rate among children 4 years of age was 12.2%. The HAstV detection rate was highest in July (13.9%), followed by May (10.5%) and August (6.7%). The detected HAstVs included genotypes 1, 4, 6, and 8. The most prevalent genotype was 1, followed by 4 and 8. This report provides an epidemiological overview of SaV and HAstV infection in Nara Prefecture, Japan.