Serotypic characterization of rotaviruses derived from asymptomatic human neonatal infections

Abstract

Nineteen rotavirus strains derived from asymptomatic neonates (seven from England, five from Australia, two from Venezuela, and five from Sweden) were successfully cultivated in primary African green monkey kidney cell cultures, serotyped by plaque reduction neutralization tests, subgrouped by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and electropherotyped by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Ail 19 strains were shown to fall into one of the four known human serotypes; serotype 1 (ahl Venezuelan strains), serotype 2 (ail Swedish * Corresponding author. MATERIALS AND METHODS Cell cultures. Primary African green monkey kidney (AGMK) cell cultures (M.A. Bioproducts, Walkersville, Md.) were used for virus isolation, propagation, and plaque purification. An established cell line of fetal rhesus monkey kidney cells, MA104 (25), kindly provided by T. H. Flewett, World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Rotaviruses, Birmingham, England, was used for the PRN test and for virus propagation. The MA104 cell cultures were prepared and maintained as previously described (26, 61). Viruses. Fecal specimens containing rotavirus derived from asymptomatic neonates were kindly furnished by J. E.

Neonatal rotavirus infection in Belém, Northern Brazil: Nosocomial transmission of a P[6] G2 strain

“…Worldwide, a variety of rotavirus strains have been isolated from neonates, and a high proportion have been associated with asymptomatic infections [Haffejee, 1991;Das et al, 1994;Gentsh et al, 1996;Kilgore et al, 1996]. The present data showing the transmission of P[6]G2 genotype among hospitalized neonates agree with other findings indicating that, in general, the rotaviruses designated commonly as newborn avirulent strains have a unique P[6] type and either G1, G2, G3, or G4 specificity Hoshino et al, 1985;Gentsch et al, 1996]. There have been recent investigations in India, however, showing that P[6] strains with common G types may account for over 40% of typed strains detected from stools of older infants and young children with diarrhea .…”

Further characterisation of human rotaviruses isolated from asymptomatically infected neonates in South Africa

“…The apparent genomic stability and persistence of a single strain of rotavirus in neonatal units is in stark contrast to the genomic variability that is seen in older infant populations infected with (%I 1992 because of host factors (such as maturation of the small intestine), passively acquired protection (delivered via the breast milk or tranplacentally), or by virulence differences in the rotavirus strains recovered from neonatal nurseries. Hoshino et al [1985] speculate that neonatal host factors may help select for less virulent strains of rotavirus, which are able to tolerate and survive in the gut of the newborn. This would help to explain the endemicity and persistence of rotavirus strains isolated from neonatal units.…”

Classical and molecular techniques for the diagnosis of viral gastroenteritis

“…Rotavirus infection is a major cause of infantile death in the developing world if untreated. It should be noted, though, that the clinical symptoms of rotavirus infections may vary widely, and asymptomatic infection of neonates with so-called nursery strains has been described (Hoshino et al, 1985).…”