Diversity of rotavirus serotypes in Mexican infants with gastroenteritis.
One hundred thirty-two stool specimens from infants with rotavirus gastroenteritis hospitalized in two Mexican cities (Mexico City and Mérida) were examined by serotype- and subgroup-specific enzyme immunoassays. Among them, 38 (29%) were serotype 1, 15 (11%) were serotype 2, 13 (10%) were serotype 3, 22 (17%) were serotype 4, none was serotype 5 or 6, and 44 (33%) could not be serotyped. By subgrouping, 121 specimens were characterized as follows: 24 (18%) were subgroup 1, 97 (74%) were subgroup 2, and none had both subgroup specificities. While serotype 1 rotavirus predominated in the Mexico City area for 4 consecutive years (1984 to 1987), serotype 4 predominated in Mérida during the single epidemic season studied (1985). These data demonstrate that all four primary human rotavirus serotypes circulated in Mexico, with serotype 1 being the most prevalent. The seroneutralization responses of 14 of the 22 patients infected with serotype 4 strains had been previously studied. Of these 14 infants, 11 appeared to have primary infections, as indicated by absence of neutralizing antibodies in the acute-phase sera and their young age (8 months on average) at the time of illness. Seven patients seroresponded to serotypes 1 and 4; two seroresponded to serotypes 1, 3, and 4; three seroresponded to serotype 1; and two had low-level seroresponses to serotype 3 or 4. These data indicate that heterotypic neutralizing antibody responses occur frequently following infection with serotype 4 rotaviruses.
Padilla-Noriega
L
L
Division of Gastroenterology, Stanford University, California 94305.
Arias
C F
CF
López
S
S
Puerto
F
F
Snodgrass
D R
DR
Taniguchi
K
K
Greenberg
H B
HB
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D012703:Serotyping; D013997:Time Factors
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal