Molecular epidemiology of group A rotavirus causing acute diarrhea in infants and young children hospitalized in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1995-1996.
During 1995-1996, an epidemiological survey was conducted at Fernandes Figueira Institute (Rio de Janeiro, DC) on group A rotavirus strains causing acute diarrhea in infants and young children. Rotaviruses were detected in 15.7% of examined specimens. Among the rotavirus strains tested for dsRNA by PAGE, 70% belonged to the long pattern and 30% to the short pattern. A long pattern classified as LA was the prevalent electropherotype among all of the types, and the prevalent short pattern was a unique SA type. Fifteen years ago, LA type was prevalent in the city among long patterns, and a SB type among short patterns, showing a substitution of circulating electropherotypes. The long pattern occurred throughout the period studied and in all age ranges studied (0-5 years old), but the short pattern occurred only in young children (age range 0-11 months) in May 1995, and September 1996. The data demonstrate epidemiologic differences between long and short electropherotypes incidence; the long electropherotype strains circulate throughout the community and the short electropherotype strains appear only in young children. Rotavirus was observed throughout the period studied but there were peaks of infection in the months of May and September.
Institute of Microbiology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
A L
AL
da Silva Domingues
M G
MG
da Silva Vaz
M
M
Moreno
F P
FP
Câmara
D000208:Acute Disease; D001938:Brazil; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000821:virology*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology
D012367:RNA, Viral