SEROLOGICAL AND GENOMIC CHARACTERIZATION OF GROUP-A ROTAVIRUSES FROM LAMBS

Four lamb rotaviruses were characterised serologically by reactions wi th monoclonal antibodies and genomically by hybridisation assays and s equencing. Each was found to be distinct. Three viruses belonged to th e bovine genogroup and were of subgroup I. These viruses possessed ser otypes G3, G6, and G10. Their corresponding P types were P1, PII, and P14 respectively. The only previous isolation of a rotavirus with VP4 of type P14 was also from lambs. The fourth isolate was G9P8, which is the first record of a G9 rotavirus from a species other than man.