Classic human astrovirus 4, 8, MLB‐3, and likely new genotype 5 sublineage in stool samples of children in Nigeria

Human astrovirus (HAstV) is a nonenveloped RNA virus and has been implicated in acute gastroenteritis among children and elderly. However, there exists a substantial dearth of information on HAstV strains circulating in Nigeria. Viral‐like particles were purified from archived 254 stool samples of children with acute flaccid paralysis between January and December 2020 from five states in Nigeria, using the NetoVIR protocol. Extracted viral RNA and DNA were subjected to a reverse transcription step and subsequent random polymerase chain reaction amplification. Library preparation and Illumina sequencing were performed. Using the virome paired‐end reads pipeline, raw reads were processed into genomic contigs. Phylogenetic and pairwise identity analysis of the recovered HAstV genomes was performed. Six near‐complete genome sequences of HAstV were identified and classified as HAstV4 (n = 1), HAstV5 (n = 1), HAstV8 (n = 1), and MLB‐3 (n = 3). The HAstV5 belonged to a yet unclassified sublineage, which we tentatively named HAstV‐5d. Phylogenetic analysis of open reading frames 1a, 1b, and 2 suggested recombination events inside the MAstV1 species. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis implied a geographic linkage between the HAstV5 strain from this study with two strains from Cameroon across all the genomic regions. We report for the first time the circulation of HAstV genotypes 4, 8, and MLB‐3 in Nigeria and present data suggestive for the existence of a new sublineage of HAstV5. To further understand the burden, diversity, and evolution of HAstV, increased research interest as well as robust HAstV surveillance in Nigeria is essential.