Rotavirus G and P types circulating in Brazil : Characterization by RT-PCR, probe hybridization, and sequence analysis

• Published in: Archives of virology Vol. 141; no. 12; pp. 2365 - 2374
• Main Authors: LEITE, J. P. G, ALFIERI, A. A, WOODS, P. A, GLASS, R. I, GENTSCH, J. R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wien Springer 01-01-1996; New York, NY
• Subjects: Antigens, Viral; Biological and medical sciences; Brazil - epidemiology; Capsid - genetics; Capsid Proteins; Cells, Cultured; Child, Preschool; Epidemiology; Feces - virology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genes, Viral; Genome, Viral; Genotype; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Microbiology; Molecular Epidemiology; Oligonucleotide Probes - genetics; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Population; Prevalence; RNA, Viral - analysis; RNA, Viral - genetics; rotavirus; Rotavirus - genetics; Rotavirus - immunology; Rotavirus Infections - epidemiology; Rotavirus Infections - genetics; Rotavirus Infections - immunology; Sequence Analysis, RNA; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Viral Proteins - immunology; Viral Vaccines - genetics; Viral Vaccines - immunology; Virology; South America; Brazil; America; Human; Rotavirus; Human rotavirus; Gastroenteritis; Genotype; Reoviridae; Infection; Virus; Viral disease; Molecular epidemiology; Digestive diseases; Intestinal disease; Child; Clinical isolate; Gastric disease; Measurement; South America; Americas; Prevalence; Brazil; Viral Diseases; Research Report; Developing Countries; Research Methodology; Diseases; Latin America
• ISSN: 0304-8608; 1432-8798
• DOI: 10.1007/bf01718637

We used reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to determine the P and G genotypes of 130 culture-adapted rotavirus strains isolated from 181 fecal specimens of children under 5 years of age from 9 states and the Federal District of Brazil. The 4 genotypes found most commonly worldwide were also common in Brazil and P[8]G1 was the most prevalent (43%), followed by P[4]G2 (12%), P[8]G3 (6%), and P[8]G4 (6%). However, unusual types P[8]G5, P[6]G2, P[9]G1, P[9]G3, and mixed infections were responsible for 12% and 21% of the cases, respectively. Genotype G5 strains were detected in specimens collected in all 9 areas surveyed from all 4 regions of Brazil. The unusual strain diversity in Brazil suggests that when tetravalent rotavirus vaccines currently being developed are introduced into Brazil, laboratory surveillance will be essential to monitor protection against unusual strains, particularly those of genotype 5, as well as emergence of novel reassortants that may evolve from the large pool of children with mixed infections.