Complete genome sequences of the first parechoviruses A associated with sporadic pediatric acute gastroenteritis in Russia

Parechovirus (the Picornaviridae family), recently classified as Parechovirus A and formerly known as Human parechovirus (HPeV), can cause a wide range of human diseases. Over the past decade, several studies have reported HPeV epidemiology in different regions; however, information from Russia is limited. A total of 632 stool samples collected in Novosibirsk, Russia during January–March 2012 were screened for HPeV by RT-PCR. The study cohort comprised 572 patients with acute gastroenteritis and 60 healthy children. Seven of 572 (1.2%) gastroenteritis cases were HPeV-positive, including one co-infection with rotavirus and astrovirus. All positive patients were ≤1 year old, and five of them were younger than 3 months. None of the healthy controls provided an HPeV-positive sample. Six HPeV isolates were classified as HPeV-1 and one as HPeV-5 using phylogenetic analysis. Two complete genome sequences of HPeV-1 and one of HPeV-5 were determined and analyzed. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the studied Russian strains are probably recombinants. P1 region sequences of two Russian HPeV-1 strains clustered with rare contemporary HPeV-1A strains, whereas their P3 regions were phylogenetically closer to the archival Harris strain. The Russian HPeV-5 strain formed a common cluster with other HPeV-5 strains only for the P1 region, while the P3 region grouped with the German HPeV-2 strain. In the Russian HPeV-5 strain, the lack of the arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) motif at the C-terminus of VP1 was observed. This is the first complete genome characterization of the Russian HPeV strains detected in sporadic cases of pediatric acute gastroenteritis. •The first study on the detection and characterization of human parechovirus in Asian Russia.•Stool samples from 572 patients with acute gastroenteritis and 60 healthy children were tested.•Six HPeV-1 and one HPeV-5 were identified in stool samples from hospitalized children.•Characterization of the first complete genome sequences of three Russian HPeV strains.