OBJECTIVETo study the genotype and gene characterization of measles wild viruses circulated in Jilin provinces, and to provide scientific evidences for setting down controlling and preventing strategy and measures.

METHODS38 strains of measles virus isolated in 2001-2006 were genotyped by RT-PCR-RFLP, some strains of measles virus in Jilin province were chosen for the phylogenetic analysis and for the homology analysis of nucleotide and amino acid sequences.

RESULTSAll the 38 strains of measles virus were identified as H1 genotype by RT-PCR-RFLP, and 29 strains of them were identified further as H1 a by sequence analysis. The homology of nucleotide was 88.0%-89.4% and the homology of amino acid was 91.8%-92.7% .The average diversity was less than 1.4%.

CONCLUSIONThe measles virus of H1a genotype was the circulating virus within recent years in Jilin province. There were the same measles virus strains circulating and transmitting at different years and also the different H1a measles virus strains co-circulating at the same year. There were the same transmission chain caused by the same measles virus with other provinces.