Epidemiological survey and genetic characterization of type 3 vaccine-derived poliovirus isolated from a patient with four doses of inactivated polio vaccine in Henan Province, China

BACKGROUND: Vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) is a potential threat to polio eradication because they can reintroduce into the general population and cause paralytic polio outbreaks, a phenomenon that has recently emerged as a prominent public health concern at the end of global polio eradication. This study aimed to describe the epidemiology and genetic characteristics of the first VDPV identified from a patient with acute flaccid paralysis (AFP), with four doses of inactivated polio vaccine immunization in Henan Province, China in 2017. METHODS: The patient was diagnosed with type 3 VDPV. Subsequently, a series of epidemiological approaches was implemented, including a retrospective search of AFP cases, rate of vaccination assessment, study of contacts, and supplementary immunization activities. Fecal samples were collected, viral isolation was performed, and the viral isolates were characterized using full-length genomic sequencing and bioinformatic analysis. RESULTS: Phylogenetic analysis showed that the viral isolates from the patient were different from other reported genetic clusters of type 3 VDPV worldwide. They were identified as a Sabin 3/Sabin 1 recombinant VDPV with a crossover site in the P2 region. Nucleotide substitutions, including U → C (472) and C → U (2493), have been identified, both of which are frequently observed as reversion mutations in neurovirulent type 3 poliovirus. A unique aspect of this case is that the patient had been vaccinated with four doses of inactive polio vaccine, and the serum neutralizing antibody for Sabin types 1 and 3 were 1∶16 and 1∶512, respectively. Thus, the patient was speculated to have been infected with type 3 VDPV, and the virus continued to replicate and be excreted for at least 41 d. CONCLUSIONS: The existence of this kind of virus in human population is a serious risk and poses a severe challenge in maintaining a polio-free status in China. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of VDPV identified in the Henan province of China. Our results highlight the importance of maintaining a high-level vaccination rate and highly sensitive AFP case surveillance system in intercepting VDPV transmission. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40249-022-01028-1.