Group A rotavirus G type prevalence in two regions of Hungary

Abstract

Rotaviruses are a major cause of gastroenteritis in children world-wide. Rotaviruses are antigenically complex, with multiple serotypes (G types). The first longitudinal study of group A rotavirus serotype (G type) distribution in Hungary is reported. Neutralizing monoclonal antibodies specific for G1, G2, G3, and G4 were used in an enzyme immunoassay to determine the antigenic variation of group A rotaviruses in two collections of stool specimens assembled from 1984-1992 in Baranya County, southwest Hungary, and from 1988-1992 at the Central Hospital for Infectious Diseases in Budapest. Ninety-two percent of the 1215 virus-positive samples were typed as follows: G1 (81%), G2 (4%), G3 (1%), G4 (5%), or mixed type (1%). G1 was the predominant type during the entire study period with the exception of the 1988/1989 rotavirus season in Baranya County when G4 predominated. Among G1 strains, different electropherotypes were detected with a shift of the predominant G1 electropherotype(s) each 2 to 3 years. G typing from two longitudinal collections established regional differences within Hungary in the prevalence of rotavirus antigenic types among children with rotavirus-associated diarrhea. These are the first longitudinal rotavirus typing results for Hungary and Central Europe.

Distribution of Rotavirus Genotypes in Europe, 2004–2005: The REVEAL Study

“…Similarly, in the REVEAL Study, we found no evidence that any genotype, including G9, was more prevalent among hospitalized children than among children who were not hospitalized. This finding is in agreement with the findings of most previously reported European studies [35,40,41], although one study reported that the G2P [4] type was associated with more severe gastroenteritis than was the G1P [8] or G4P [8] type [42]. One possible explanation for the apparently greater severity of disease associated with newly emergent serotypes may be the absence of immunity within the population [42].…”

Eight-Year Survey of Human Rotavirus Strains Demonstrates Circulation of Unusual G and P Types in Hungary

“…During the study period, 4,173 rotavirus-positive stool specimens were obtained, of which 2,020 samples (48.4%) were G serotyped or genotyped at annual rates that varied from 14.8 to 80.2% (BaC specimens) and from 29.9 to 60.7% (BP samples) due to differences in availability of sufficient amounts of sample for further testing (Table 1). Common serotypes (G1 to G4) were found in 87 and 81% of all cases in BaC and BP, respectively, consistent with previously described findings (23,42). Serotype G1 rotaviruses were the most prevalent strains (average prevalence, 62%; range, 18.6 to 100%), followed by serotype G2 (in BaC, 14.1%; in BP, 11.8%) and serotype G4 (in BaC, 13.1%; in BP, 5.1%) rotaviruses.…”

Surveillance of human rotaviruses in 2007–2011, Hungary: Exploring the genetic relatedness between vaccine and field strains

“…34 Later, we documented the circulation of unusual strains and the emergence of globally spreading strains in line with the introduction of sophisticated methods into our typing protocol whereby we were able to reduce the proportion of untypeable strains. [35][36][37][38][39][40] In the pre rotavirus vaccine era, two sentinel regions were included in the rotavirus surveillance in Hungary and approximately 7000 strains were sero-or genotyped during a 22 years period from mid-1980s to 2006.…”

“…[35][36][37][38][39][40] In the pre rotavirus vaccine era, two sentinel regions were included in the rotavirus surveillance in Hungary and approximately 7000 strains were sero-or genotyped during a 22 years period from mid-1980s to 2006. 27,34,37,38,[41][42][43][44] Between 2007 and 2011 we genotyped over 2400 strains from eight study areas using the typing protocol recommended by the EuroRotaNet, the first European rotavirus strain surveillance network. 16,17 The most important strains were G1P [8], G2P [4] and G4P [8], with marked annual fluctuations observed at different study sites.…”