Genetic diversity of parechoviruses (Picornaviridae: Paavivirinae: Parechovirus: Parechovirus ahumpari) circulating in Nizhny Novgorod in 2021–2024

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Abstract

Introduction. Parechoviruses of the Parechovirus ahumpari (PeV-A) species, pathogenic to humans, are widespread and genetically diverse infectious agents. Infections caused by these viruses are characterized by a wide variety of clinical manifestations ranging from mild intestinal or respiratory diseases to severe CNS lesions. The high-risk group for the disease are newborns and infants. PeV-A species are classified in 19 types that have a varying distribution in different territories. In Russia, the type composition of territorial parechovirus populations has not been sufficiently studied, which determines the relevance of monitoring the circulation of these viruses using genotyping.

The aim of the study was to identify and investigate the genetic diversity of parechoviruses that circulated in Nizhny Novgorod in the period 2021–2024.

Materials and methods. 5,073 stool samples from children hospitalized in an infectious hospital with a diagnosis of acute gastroenteritis were examined for the presence of human parechoviruses. The detection of parechoviruses was carried out by RT-PCR. Viral types were determined by Sanger sequencing of VP1 genome fragment. The nucleotide sequences were analyzed using MEGA X and Beast v1.8.4 software.

Results. Parechoviruses were detected in children aged 3 months to 17 years with a frequency of 0.06–2.08% in different years, an average of 1.46 ± 0.16%. Viral type has been identified for 52 strains. Six types of PeV-A parechoviruses have been identified. The PeV-A1 was a predominant type (80.4%). Types PeV-A2 to PeV-A6 have been found in isolated cases. Heterogeneity of the PeV-A1 population in Nizhny Novgorod was represented by virus genotypes 1A and 1B, with an absolute predominance of genotype 1B, which included 16 genetic variants.

Conclusion. The data obtained expand information on the type and genetic diversity of pathogenic for humans parechoviruses circulating among the population of central Russia (based the example of the Nizhny Novgorod region).

About the authors

Vladimir V. Zverev

Academician I.N. Blokhina Nizhny Novgorod Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Rospotrebnadzor

Email: arceo@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-3853-9293

PhD (Biology), Senior Researcher, Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology of Viral Infections

Russian Federation, 603950, Nizhny Novgorod

Svetlana G. Selivanova

Academician I.N. Blokhina Nizhny Novgorod Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Rospotrebnadzor

Email: svetafor22@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-6610-1774

PhD (Biology), Senior Researcher, Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology of Viral Infections

Russian Federation, 603950, Nizhny Novgorod

Natalia V. Epifanova

Academician I.N. Blokhina Nizhny Novgorod Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Rospotrebnadzor

Email: epifanovanv@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-7679-8029

PhD (Biology), Leading Researcher, Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology of Viral Infections

Russian Federation, 603950, Nizhny Novgorod

Alexander Y. Kashnikov

Academician I.N. Blokhina Nizhny Novgorod Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Rospotrebnadzor

Email: mevirfc@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-1033-7347

Researcher, Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology of Viral Infections

Russian Federation, 603950, Nizhny Novgorod

Natalia V. Ponomareva

Academician I.N. Blokhina Nizhny Novgorod Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Rospotrebnadzor

Email: natalia.ponomareva.rfc@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-8950-6259

PhD (Biology), Senior Researcher, Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology of Viral Infections

Russian Federation, 603950, Nizhny Novgorod

Lyudmila N. Golitsyna

Academician I.N. Blokhina Nizhny Novgorod Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Rospotrebnadzor

Email: lyudmila_galitzina@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-8064-4476

PhD (Biology), Leading Researcher, Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology of Viral Infections

Russian Federation, 603950, Nizhny Novgorod

Nadezhda A. Novikova

Academician I.N. Blokhina Nizhny Novgorod Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Rospotrebnadzor

Author for correspondence.
Email: novikova_na@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-3710-6648

Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor, Head of the Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology of Viral Infections, Leading Researcher

Russian Federation, 603950, Nizhny Novgorod

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Copyright (c) 2025 Zverev V.V., Selivanova S.G., Epifanova N.V., Kashnikov A.Y., Ponomareva N.V., Golitsyna L.N., Novikova N.A.

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