Use of polymerase chain reaction for the differentiation of Group A bovine rotavirus G6, G8, and G10 genotypes in the North Island of New Zealand.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the presence of Group A rotavirus G6, G8, and G10 genotypes in calves in the North Island of New Zealand.


METHODS
Faecal samples from 730 calves (<6 weeks old) with diarrhoea were collected during 2006 and 2007 from seven regions in the North Island of New Zealand. The samples were screened for the presence of Group A rotavirus antigen, using a commercial ELISA. Forty-one samples from different farms were randomly selected out of the 385 ELISA-positive samples and tested using PCR for the presence of G6, G8, and G10 genotypes of rotavirus.


RESULTS
The PCR analysis of 41 antigen-positive field samples revealed that 37 (90%) contained genotype G6, three (7%) genotype G10, one sample (2%) had both G6 and G10 genotypes, and none contained genotype G8.


CONCLUSIONS
Rotavirus genotype G6 was the predominant genotype found in this preliminary study and was present in all seven regions studied. Genotype G10 was also found in some regions of the North Island, whereas genotype G8 was not found in any sample.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first report on rotavirus G genotypes present in calves in the North Island of New Zealand.
Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand. l.howe@massey.ac.nz
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D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary / Q000821:virology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D005838:Genotype; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D015995:Prevalence; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology
D000956:Antigens, Viral