Detection and phylogenetic analysis of human rhinoviruses in Okinawa, Japan

Abstract

Human rhinoviruses (HRVs) are the cause of common colds and asthmatic exacerbation (1). Phylogenetic analysis of the VP4/VP2 sequences of HRVs has revealed that all HRV serotypes except serotype 87 belong to 2 different species, HRV-A and HRV-B (2). Recently, several groups have reported the presence of a new HRV species, HRV-C (3,4). Although HRV-C cannot be cultured, it is distributed worldwide and is found in association with community outbreaks of acute respiratory infections (ARIs) (4,5). In Japan, HRV-A isolated from patients with ARIs in Yamagata Prefecture has been phylogenetically analyzed (6). However, the molecular epidemiology of HRVs from Okinawa Prefecture is not well known. Therefore, we performed phylogenetic analysis of the VP4/VP2 sequences of HRVs detected in patients with ARIs and other viral infections in Okinawa Prefecture from June 2008 to January 2010.