Ke. Stewien et al., SEROTYPES AND ELECTROPHEROTYPES OF HUMAN ROTAVIRUS DETECTED IN THE CITY OF SAO-LUIS (MA), BRAZIL, Brazilian journal of medical and biological research, 27(6), 1994, pp. 1355-1361
A total of 22 (65%) of 34 representative rotavirus-positive specimens
from infants with acute gastroenteritis were electropherotyped (RNA ge
nome segments) and serotyped using an enzyme immunoassay with monoclon
al antibodies (ELISA with MAbs). Serotype 3 was predominant during the
10-month study period (41%), followed by serotype 1 (27%) and serotyp
e 4 (9%). Serotype 2 was not found. Rotavirus strains were grouped int
o 3 major electropherotypes designated V, W and Z, each corresponding
to a single serotype, i.e., serotypes 1, 3 and 4, respectively. Three
strains that could not be typed by the serologic technique showed the
W electrophoretic profile. The relative migration of the gene segments
7-9 was the main feature distinguishing the predominant serotype 3 fr
om the other serotypes. The migration of segments 2 and 5 was also imp
ortant for differentiating serotype 4 strains. The present study stren
gthens the view that electropherotyping, when used in conjunction with
serotyping, can help characterize atypical and unusual strains, as we
ll as rotaviruses that cannot be typed by the serologic technique.