Sequence and phylogenetic analysis of the nucleoprotein (N) gene in measles viruses prevalent in Gunma, Japan, in 2007.

In 2007, relatively large outbreaks of measles occurred in the Kanto region of Japan, including Gunma Prefecture. We performed sequence and phylogenetic analysis of the nucleoprotein gene (N gene) of measles viruses from 3 measles patients in this area in May 2007. The N gene sequences of the present strains were identical to each other, and phylogenetic analysis showed these viruses were classified into genotype D5. The results suggest that highly homologous measles viruses may be associated with outbreaks of measles in Gunma, Japan.