ELECTROPHORETIC TYPING OF ROTAVIRUS AT A TERTIARY CARE CENTER, SAUDI-ARABIA

Objective: To determine the epidemiologic features of rotavirus seroty pes in Saudi Arabia. Design: RNA genome analysis was performed on 200 rotavirus positive patients by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAG E). Setting: King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riya dh, Saudi Arabia. Subjects: 200 patients with rotavirus diarrhea. Resu lts: Seven patterns were found of which 5 were long and 2 were short. The distribution pattern showed that one of the long electropherotypes dominated in 159 patients. Most patients (155) were under 5 years of age; of the 200 patients there were 111 males and 89 females. Of these 118 were outpatients and 88 inpatients with approximately 75% of admi ssion being referrals from other parts of the Kingdom. Conclusions: Th e greatest variations in mobility were found in segments 2, 3, 6, 8 an d 9. No correlation was found with age or sex of patients. Modificatio ns in running current and gel thickness were found to improve separati on of bands.