Characterization of rotavirus strains from day care centers: pre- and post-rotavirus vaccine era.
OBJECTIVE
In 2006 the rotavirus vaccine was included in the Brazilian Immunization Program. The aim of this study was to report the results of a 5-year surveillance study of rotavirus strains in children < 5 years with acute gastroenteritis from day care centers in the state of São Paulo, Brazil.


METHODS
This retrospective study was conducted with 30 day care centers from 2004 to 2008 with convenient surveillance fecal specimens, investigated by ELISA, SDS-PAGE, RT-PCR and gene sequencing to genotype characterization.


RESULTS
Rotavirus infection was detected in 28.3% of samples (38/134). The most frequent genotypes detected were G9P[8] and G1P[8] in 2004; G1P[8] in 2005; GNTP[NT] in 2006; G2P[4] in 2007; and there were no cases in 2008. Mixed infections were not observed. Detection rate declined from 65.7% (23/35) in 2004 to 50% (9/18) in 2007.


CONCLUSIONS
Genotype distribution varied according to collection year, accompanied by a reduction in detection rate. Use of rotavirus vaccine requires implementation of post-marketing surveillance to monitor rotavirus strain diversity and its efficacy against possible new emerging genotypes.
Morillo
Simone G
SG
Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Enteric Virus Laboratory, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. sgmorillo@gmail.com
Luchs
Adriana
A
Cilli
Audrey
A
Costa
Fernanda F
FF
Carmona
Rita de Cassia C
Rde C
Timenetsky
Maria do Carmo S T
Mdo C
D002656:Child Day Care Centers; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology*; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D011358:Product Surveillance, Postmarketing; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000235:genetics*; D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013997:Time Factors
D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines