Neonatal rotavirus infection in Belém, northern Brazil: nosocomial transmission of a P[6] G2 strain.
A total of 614 fecal specimens were obtained during a survey for rotavirus infection conducted between May 1996 and May 1998 among 437 newborns admitted to special care nurseries at a public hospital in the urban area of Belém, Brazil. Routine stool samples were taken weekly from all babies up to the age of 28 days. Overall, 51 (11.7%) of the neonates excreted rotaviruses while in hospital, of whom 42 (82.3%) developed asymptomatic nosocomial infection; nosocomial infection was also proved in five of the nine patients with diarrhea. Three distinct RNA profiles were detected, of which one short electropherotyping pattern was far more frequent ( approximately 90% of the strains). Using monoclonal antibody-based enzyme immunoassays, 32 (62.7%) of the rotavirus-positive strains were classified as G2, and 1 (1.9%) as mixed G1 and G2. A G serotype could not be assigned to 18 (35.3%) of the isolates. A reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was used for determining the VP4 type-specificity of a subset of 28 rotavirus-positive samples. Characterization of the VP7-genotype specificity was also sought for 18 of these latter strains. Overall, P[6] and G2 genotypes were identified in 93% and 94% of tested samples respectively, with results being further confirmed by Southern hybridization. Although surveillance was conducted during a 25-month period, 50 (98%) of 51 rotavirus isolates clustered between January and December 1997. The earliest [P6]G2 rotavirus infections were detected by late January 1997, involving two (13- and 14-day-old) babies admitted with acute diarrhea. Thereafter, strains bearing these genotype specificities were identified among five infants with hospital-acquired gastroenteritis, followed by 16 others who were infected asymptomatically. This is the first report from Brazil describing nosocomial transmission of P[6]G2 rotavirus strains among neonates.
Virology Section, Instituto Evandro Chagas, Fundação Nacional de Saúde, and University of Pará State, Belém, Pará, Brazil. alexandrelinhares@iec.pa.gov.br
Alexandre C
AC
Linhares
Joana D'Arc P
JD
Mascarenhas
Rosa Helena P
RH
Gusmão
Yvone B
YB
Gabbay
Alexandre M
AM
Fialho
José Paulo G
JP
Leite
D015139:Blotting, Southern; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D012621:Seasons; D012703:Serotyping