title: Rotavirus serotype G9P[8] and acute gastroenteritis outbreak in children, Northern Australia.
abstract: During 2001, an outbreak of severe acute gastroenteritis swept through Central and northern Australia and caused serious disruption to health services. We tracked and characterized the rotavirus strain implicated in the outbreak. Comparison of the electropherotypes of outbreak samples suggested that one G9P[8] strain was likely responsible for the outbreak. Samples were obtained from geographically distinct regions of Australia where the epidemic had occurred. The outbreak strains showed identical nucleotide sequences in genes encoding three rotavirus proteins, VP7, VP8, and NSP4, but they were distinct from G9P[8] strains isolated in previous years. Several of the amino acid substitutions on the VP7 and NSP4 proteins were identified in regions known to influence function and may have contributed to the emergence and increased dominance of the outbreak strains. Rotavirus serotype surveillance should continue with methods capable of identifying new and emerging types.
authors.affiliation: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. carl.kirkwood@mcri.edu.au
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kirkwood
authors.forename: Nada
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bogdanovic-Sakran
authors.forename: Graeme
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bishop
mesh_terms: D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002648:Child; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012703:Serotyping; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D036022:Capsid Proteins; C050779:VP7 protein, Rotavirus