title: Report of the Australian Rotavirus Surveillance Program, 2001/2002.
abstract: The National Rotavirus Reference Centre together with collaborating laboratories Australia-wide has conducted rotavirus surveillance since June 1999. The serotypes of rotavirus strains that are responsible for the hospitalisation of children with acute gastroenteritis were determined for the period 1 June 2001 to 31 June 2002. We examined 754 rotavirus samples using a combination of monoclonal antibody immunoassay, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and Northern hybridisation. For the first time, serotype G9 strains were the most prevalent type nationally (40.4%) and found in 8 of the 9 centres. Serotype G1 strains were the second most prevalent type (38.9%), identified in 5 of the centres. These findings have important implications for vaccine development strategies which target serotypes G1-G4.
authors.affiliation: National Rotavirus Reference Centre, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, VIC. kirkwooc@cryptic.rch.unimelb.edu.au
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kirkwood
authors.forename: Nada
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bogdanovic-Sakran
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Masendycz
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bishop
authors.forename: Graeme
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barnes
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012307:Risk Factors; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014611:Vaccination / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends
chemical_list: D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines