The Open Virology Journal

2014, 8 : 9-13
Published online 2014 September 29 . DOI: 10.2174/1874357901408010009
Publisher ID: TOVJ-8-9

RESEARCH ARTICLE
 Influenza A H1N1pdm 2009 Virus in Paraguay: Nucleotide Point Mutations in Hemagglutinin and Neuraminidase Genes are not Associated with Drug Resistance

Emilio E Espínola, *,1 , Alberto A Amarilla 1,2 , Magaly Martínez 1 , Víctor H Aquino 2 and Graciela Russomando 1
1 Departamento de Biología Molecular y Genética, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de Asunción, Paraguay
2 Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Toxicológicas e Bromatológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil

* Address correspondence to this author at the Rio de la Plata y Lagerenza, CP1120, Asunción, Paraguay; Tel: +595 21 424 520; Fax: +595 21 480 185; E-mail: emilioespinola@hotmail.com

ABSTRACT

Influenza virus is associated with upper respiratory tract infections. The fourth influenza pandemic was declared in 2009. The aim of this study was to determine the genetic variability of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic virus circulating in Paraguay. Nasal swabs were collected from 181 patients with flu symptoms managed at the Hospital of the Medical School in Asunción, Paraguay, between August and October 2009. Virus detection was carried out by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, followed by sequencing of the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase genes, and phylogenetic analysis. H1N1pdm09 was detected in 14.9% (27/181) of the suspected cases. Analysis of 13 samples showed that these viruses the clustered in a single genetic group. Neither the mutation related to exacerbation of disease (D239G in hemagglutinin) nor that related to antiviral resistance (H275Y in neuraminidase), both detected in neighboring countries, were found. This genetic analysis of H1N1pdm09 will help to understand the spread of the disease.

Keywords:

Hemagglutinin, pandemic influenza H1N1 2009, neuraminidase, respiratory disease, swine flu..