ROTAVIRUS SEROTYPES AND ELECTROPHORETYPES AMONG CHILDREN ATTENDING 3 PEDIATRIC HOSPITALS IN BELEM, BRAZIL

From March to September 1988 stool specimens of 101 hospitalized diarr hoeic infants and children, aged 1-24 months were examined by enzyme-l inked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the presence of rotavirus antige n. This agent was found in 40 (40 per cent) of the 101 episodes of acu te diarrhoea, and strains were both characterized by analysis of RNA i n polyacrilamide gel and serotyped by ELISA using serotype-specific mo noclonal antibodies. The highest frequency of rotavirus positivity was 80 per cent in the 16-18 month age group. All 11 (28 per cent) seroty ped strains belonged to serotype 3 whereas absence of Vp7, the major o uter capsid glycoprotein, did not allow serotyping in 29 (73 per cent) of the 40 rotavirus-positive specimens. Four distinct electrophoretyp es were detected and the predominant one had the IbIIbIIIgIVa profile, accounting for 62 per cent of the classified strains. Unclear pattern s did not allow us to determine the electrophoretype of six rotavirus strains. The clinical picture in study children was in general of mode rate/severe nature.