Molecular epidemiology of measles virus in Italy during 2008

introduction. in view of the goal of measles elimination, it is of great importance to assess the circulation of wild-type measles virus (mv). genetic analysis is indispensable to understand the epidemiology of measles. a large measles outbreak occurred in italy in 2008, with over 4000 cases reported to the enhanced measles surveillance system introduced in 2007, 37% of which were laboratory confirmed. methods. urine and saliva samples were collected during 2008. a phylogenetic analysis of measles sequences was performed in order to understand the epidemiological situation of wild-type (mv) circulation in that period. result and discussion. data showed predominant circulation of the genotype d4. genotypes a, d8, d9 and h1 were also detected in a small number of samples, probably representing imported cases.