Characterization of rotavirus strains in a Danish population: high frequency of mixed infections and diversity within the VP4 gene of P[8] strains.
We characterized the G and P types from 162 rotavirus-positive stool specimens collected from 162 persons in Denmark (134 children and 28 adults) with acute diarrhea in 1998, 2000, and 2002. Samples were obtained during outpatient consultations (73%) and from hospitalized patients (27%). Although more than 20 different G-P combinations were identified, only 52% represented the globally most common types G1P[8], G2P[4], and G4P[8]. The G9 genotype, which is emerging worldwide, was identified in 12% of all samples. Twenty-one percent of the samples were of mixed genotypic origin, which is the highest frequency reported in any European population. The standard reverse transcription-PCR methods initially failed to identify a considerable fraction of the rotavirus P strains due to mutations at the VP4 primer-binding sites of P[8] strains. The application of a degenerate P[8] primer resulted in typing of most VP4 strains. There was considerable year-to-year variation among the circulating G-P types, and whereas G1P[8] was predominant in 1998 (42% of samples) and 2002 (26%), G2P[4] was the strain that was most frequently detected in 2000 (26% of samples). Our findings might implicate challenges for rotavirus vaccine implementation in a European population and underscore the importance of extensive strain surveillance prior to, during, and after introduction of any vaccine candidate.
Fischer
T K
TK
Viral Gastroenteritis Section, MS G-04, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1630 Clifton Road N.E., Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. thf@ssi.dk
Eugen-Olsen
J
J
Pedersen
A G
AG
Mølbak
K
K
Böttiger
B
B
Rostgaard
K
K
Nielsen
N M
NM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001483:Base Sequence; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016865:Reassortant Viruses; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000145:classification*; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000821:virology*
D036022:Capsid Proteins; C060339:VP4 protein, Rotavirus