GROUP-A ROTAVIRUS G-TYPE PREVALENCE IN 2 REGIONS OF HUNGARY

Rotaviruses are a major cause of gastroenteritis in children worldwide . Rotaviruses are antigenically complex, with multiple serotypes (G ty pes). The first longitudinal study of group A rotavirus serotype (G ty pe) distribution in Hungary is reported. Neutralizing monoclonal antib odies specific for G1, G2, G3, and G4 were used in an enzyme immunoass ay to determine the antigenic variation of group A rotaviruses in two collections of stool specimens assembled from 1984-1992 in Baranya Cou nty, 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%), G 4 (5%), or mixed type (1%). G1 was the predominant type during the ent ire study period with the exception of the 1988/1989 rotavirus season in Baranya County when G4 predominated. Among G1 strains, different el ectropherotypes were detected with a shift of the predominant G1 elect ropherotype(s) each 2 to 3 years. G typing from two longitudinal colle ctions established regional differences within Hungary in the prevalen ce of rotavirus antigenic types among children with rotavirus-associat ed diarrhea. These are the first longitudinal rotavirus typing results for Hungary and Central Europe.