BackgroundWorldwide, Group A bovine rotavirus (RVA boRV) is one of the main causes of neonatal calf diarrhoea. Currently, limited epidemiological and sequence data exists on the RVA disease in bovines in Southern Ireland only. The aim of the study was to generate epidemiological and sequence data of RVA boRV distributed over a wide geographical area in Ireland.Findings272 stool samples were obtained from symptomatic calves and analysed to identify the prevalent G and P genotypes. Viral type combinations including G6P[5], G6P[11] and G10P[11] genotype were the most frequently identified. The G6P[5] combination was predominant throughtout the study, accounting for 70% (n = 191). Sequence analysis of the VP7 gene revealed that Irish G6 strains fell within Lineage IV, similiar to previous reports in Ireland.ConclusionThe detection of unusual G and P combinations may have an impact on rotavirus control programmes and current vaccines may need to incorporate new strains, as the current vaccine available may not offer protection against all of these circulating types.

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Background: Rotavirus (RV), is a member of the Reoviridae family and an important etiological agent of acute viral gastroenteritis in the young. Rotaviruses have a wide host range infecting a broad range of animal species, however little is known about rotavirus infection in exotic animals. In this paper we report the first characterisation of a RV strain from a giraffe calf.

Worldwide, Group A Rotavirus (RVA) is recognized as the most common aetiological agent of acute diarrheal disease in children. One hundred and ninety seven positive faecal samples were obtained from patients between 2006 and 2008. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to amplify the VP7 and VP4 gene segments of these samples, and G and P typing was carried out subsequently. The most common strain type was G1P[8], and the emergent global G9-type was identified in both years. RVA strain type G2P[4], previously reported in Ireland in 1999, was also detected. Genotypes G2 and G3 in combination with P[4] were detected in 2006-2007 only. There was also an emergence of strain types including G3P[4], G9P[4], G2P[4 + 8] and G2G4P[8] in this study. Molecular analysis of the VP7 genes revealed G1 strains circulating within lineage Ic as previously reported in Ireland. In addition, new sublineage within lineage I of G1 strains was also identified. Analysis of G4 strain NRVL-Hum-49 revealed similarity with other human G4 viruses in lineage Ib. G9 strain NRVL-Hum-74 clustered with a unique G9 strain, CIT-254, in lineage IIIc. This data supports the observations made that the profile of RVA strains in Ireland appears to be dynamic. This study demonstrates that the circulation of human rotavirus is changing continuously in Ireland, and continued surveillance of the circulating strains is needed to detect the appearance of new strains, or new variants which may lead to vaccine breakthrough.