Molecular characterization of group C rotaviruses detected in children in Italy.
BACKGROUND
Group C rotavirus (GCRV) infection has been described worldwide in children and adults either as sporadic cases or large outbreaks of gastroenteritis but GCRV epidemiology is still unclear.


OBJECTIVE
To acquire molecular information on GCRV infection in children hospitalized with gastroenteritis in Italy.


METHODS
Stools positive for rotavirus-like-particles by electron microscopy during the 2004-2005 surveillance for rotavirus infection in Parma, Italy, were screened by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. GCRV strains detected were characterized by sequence and phylogenetic analysis of the genes encoding the capsid proteins VP4, VP6 and VP7.


RESULTS
Two of 856 samples (0.23%; 0.7% of 273 samples containing rotavirus-like particles) contained GCRV. These Italian strains were virtually identical in the 3 genes and were closely related to human strains identified in Asia, rather than to strains of European origin.


CONCLUSIONS
These results confirm the circulation of GCRVs in Europe and demonstrate genetic heterogeneity among European GCRVs. Inclusion of GCRVs in the diagnostic algorithms for childhood diarrhoea could be helpful in monitoring temporal changes in the GCRV epidemiology, likely under the influence of the changing demographic dynamics.
Medici
Maria Cristina
MC
Section of Microbiology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Parma School of Medicine, viale Antonio Gramsci 14, 43100 Parma, Italy. mariacristina.medici@unipr.it
Abelli
Laura Anna
LA
Martinelli
Monica
M
Martella
Vito
V
Dettori
Giuseppe
G
Chezzi
Carlo
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007558:Italy; D010802:Phylogeny; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000821:virology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017385:Sequence Homology; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics
D014764:Viral Proteins