IDENTIFICATION OF A HUMAN GROUP-C ROTAVIRUS IN MALAYSIA

Stool specimens from 334 infants and young children hospitalized with diarrhea in the General Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia between Augus t and November, 1987 were analyzed for the presence of rotavirus doubl e-stranded (ds) RNA by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Of the 334 specimens analyzed, 32 (9.6%) were positive for rotavirus RNA. One spe cimen (designated G147) exhibited a ds RNA electropherotype profile ch aracteristic of Group C rotavirus and was selected for further charact erization. In Northern blot hybridization studies, the gene 5 segment of strain G147 hybridized with a cDNA probe generated from the cloned gene 5 (which encodes the VP6 inner capsid protein that is group speci fic) of porcine Group C rotavirus strain Cowden, confirming the classi fication of strain G147 in Group C. The association of Group C rotavir us with diarrheal illness in Malaysia is consistent with earlier studi es that suggest a global distribution of this virus and supports the n eed for additional epidemiologic studies. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.