Genetic characterization of two G8P[8] rotavirus strains isolated in Guangzhou, China, in 2020/21: evidence of genome reassortment

Background The G8 rotavirus genotype has been detected frequently in children in many countries and even became the predominant strain in sub-Saharan African countries, while there are currently no reports from China. In this study we described the genetic characteristics and evolutionary relationship between rotavirus strains from Guangzhou in China and the epidemic rotavirus strains derived from GenBank, 2020-2021. Methods Virus isolation and subsequent next-generation sequencing were performed for confirmed G8P[8] specimens. The genetic characteristics and evolutionary relationship were analyzed in comparison with epidemic rotavirus sequences obtained from GenBank. Results The two Guangzhou G8 strains were DS-1-like with the closest genetic distance to strains circulating in Southeast Asia. The VP7 genes of the two strains were derived from a human, not an animal G8 rotavirus. Large genetic distances in several genes suggested that the Guangzhou strains may not have been transmitted directly from Southeast Asian countries, but have emerged following reassortment events. Conclusions We report the whole genome sequence information of G8P[8] rotaviruses recently detected in China; their clinical and epidemiological significance remains to be explored further.