UNUSUAL DIVERSITY OF HUMAN ROTAVIRUS G-GENOTYPE AND P-GENOTYPE IN INDIA

Between April and December 1993, we determined P and G genotypes of gr oup A rotavirus strains obtained from children admitted to diarrhea tr eatment centers in five Indian cities. From a total of 63 rotavirus-po sitive specimens, we identified 10 different strains with five differe nt G genotypes and four distinct P types by using reverse transcriptio n-PCR. The common worldwide strains, G(1)P(8), G(2)P(4), G(3)P(8), and G(4)P(8) were underrepresented among Indian children (33%), whereas s trains of P type 6 (G(1)P(6), G(2)P(6), G(3)P(6), G(4)P(6), and G(9)P( 6)), which primarily infect asymptomatic newborns but are rare in chil dren with diarrhea were common in India (43%). Of these, G(9)P(6), a s train not previously reported to be found in children with diarrhea, w as the most prevalent (22%). Eleven percent of the strains were nontyp eable, and another 11% of the specimens had mixed infections. Using di goxigenin-labeled, genotype-specific hybridization probes, we confirme d all G(9) strains and mixed infections tested and identified three no ntypeable strains (one G(9) and two P-8). The epidemiological signific ance of G(9) rotavirus strains, if confirmed in other settings, may ha ve important implications for vaccine development.