title: Identification of strains of RotaTeq rotavirus vaccine in infants with gastroenteritis following routine vaccination.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  RotaTeq vaccine was introduced into the Australian National Immunisation Program in 2007. This study identified and characterised rotavirus strains excreted by infants who presented with symptoms of gastroenteritis following recent RotaTeq vaccination.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fecal samples (N = 61) from children who developed gastroenteritis following recent RotaTeq vaccination were forwarded to the Australian Rotavirus Surveillance Program (ARSP). RotaTeq-positive samples were genotyped and regions of the VP3, VP4, VP6, and VP7 genes were sequenced. Also, 460 rotavirus-positive ARSP routine surveillance samples were analyzed by dot-blot Northern hybridization to detect RotaTeq vaccine-derived strains circulating in the community.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirteen of the 61 samples collected from infants developing gastroenteritis after RotaTeq vaccination contained vaccine-derived (vd) rotavirus strains. Of these, 4 contained a vdG1P[8] strain derived by reassortment between the G1P[5] and G6P[8] parental vaccine strains. Northern hybridization analysis of 460 surveillance samples identified 3 samples that contained RotaTeq vaccine-derived strains, including 2 vdG1P[8] reassortant vaccine strains.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  During replication and excretion of RotaTeq vaccine, reassortment of parental strains can occur. Shedding of RotaTeq vaccine strains in 7 of 13 infants was associated with underlying medical conditions that may have altered their immune function. The benefits of vaccination outweigh any small risk of vaccine-associated gastroenteritis.
authors.affiliation: Enteric Virus Group, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia. cmdonato@students.latrobe.edu.au
authors.forename: Celeste M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Donato
authors.forename: Ling Sing
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Ch'ng
authors.forename: Karen F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Boniface
authors.forename: Nigel W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Crawford
authors.forename: Jim P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Buttery
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lyon
authors.forename: Ruth F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Bishop
authors.forename: Carl D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Kirkwood
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000821:virology*; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral / Q000502:physiology; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016865:Reassortant Viruses; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology*; D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated; D014779:Virus Replication; D017201:Virus Shedding
chemical_list: D036022:Capsid Proteins; D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated