title: Epidemiology of rotavirus electropherotypes determined by a simplified diagnostic technique with RNA analysis.
abstract: The incidence and RNA electropherotypes of rotavirus in stools or rectal swabs of children with diarrhea were studied for three rotavirus seasons (1981 through 1984) in Philadelphia, Pa. We used a simplified RNA analysis method involving polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by silver staining. Phosphate-buffered saline suspensions of the stools and swab eluates were examined directly by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis-silver staining analysis and enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay (Rotazyme; Abbott Laboratories); electron microscopy was performed on solid stool specimens. The RNA analysis results were compared with electron microscopy and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay results and exhibited a sensitivity and specificity greater than or equal to that of electron microscopy or the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Ten different electropherotypes were detected among the 68 rotavirus RNA-positive specimens examined over the 3-year study. The predominant electropherotype was different in each season. Our results indicate that the polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis-silver nitrate strain RNA analysis of simple unextracted stool suspensions is a uniquely useful diagnostic technique; it rapidly provides both a definitive positive result and immediate determination of the RNA electropherotype, which is of value for epidemiological study.
authors.forename: K T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Dolan
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Twist
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Horton-Slight
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Forrer
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Plotkin
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Clark
mesh_terms: D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005243:Feces / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000235:genetics; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral