Molecular characterization of bovine rotavirus strains circulating in northern Italy, 2003-2005.
A total of 232 stools collected from calves with rotavirus infection in herds located in northern Italy from 2003 to 2005 was investigated. Determination of the rotavirus G and P types was carried out using nested RT-PCR. G6 was the most prevalent genotype, accounting for 78.5% of samples, G10 accounted for 9.9% of samples and viruses of G8 type were found in 4.7% of samples. In 3% of samples, viruses were not classified due to concomitant infection with more G type strains, whereas viruses in 3.9% of samples could not be characterized with any of the G-specific primers used in this study. Most common P types were P[11] and P[5], accounting for 65.1% and 25%, respectively. In 2.6% of cases, samples reacted with multiple P-specific primers; no P[1] serotype was identified. The G6P[11] combination was predominant throughout the study period, i.e. 52.5% in 2003, 50% in 2004 and 40% in 2005. The incidence of G6P[5] increased from 13.1% in 2003 to 27% in 2004 and 25.5% in 2005. The G10P[11] combination decreased markedly from 18% in 2003 to 2.6% in 2004, rising again to 7.3% in 2005. G8P[11] viruses were similarly present in 2003 (5%) and 2004 (4.3%), declining slightly in 2005 (1.8%).
Monini
M
M
Dipartimento di Sanità alimentare e animale, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
Cappuccini
F
F
Battista
P
P
Falcone
E
E
Lavazza
A
A
Ruggeri
F M
FM
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D004279:DNA, Viral; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D005784:Gene Amplification; D005838:Genotype; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000235:genetics*; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D013045:Species Specificity
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D004279:DNA, Viral; C060339:VP4 protein, Rotavirus; C050779:VP7 protein, Rotavirus