title: Genotypic characterization of rotaviruses and prevalence of serotype-specific serum antibodies in children in Kuwait.
abstract: There are no data on the serotypes of rotaviruses prevalent in Kuwait, which has a large expatriate population and hence a focal point for transmission of pathogens. The serotype information will contribute to the fund of knowledge on the world epidemiology of rotavirus serotypes and will predict the outcome of vaccination in Kuwait. Of the 75 rotavirus-positive samples from 172 children (aged <5 years) with severe diarrhoea, 69 were genotyped. The distribution of genotypes was G1 (63.8%) followed by G9 (10.2%), G2 (7.3%), G4 (7.3%) and G3 (4.4%). Among the P types, P[8] was the most common type found across all G types. By fluorescent focus neutralization test, serum antibodies to genotypes G1 (94%), G4 (68%) and G9 (46%) were found in 120 other children. These results show that G1 is the predominant serotype in Kuwait and that a vaccine that contains G1 will be most effective.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Kuwait University, Kuwait. john@hsc.edu.kw
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Marmash
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Dalwai
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Szucs
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Molla
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Pacsa
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Al-Nakib
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Albert
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007730:Kuwait / Q000453:epidemiology; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012703:Serotyping
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D036022:Capsid Proteins; C060339:VP4 protein, Rotavirus; C050779:VP7 protein, Rotavirus