Relative frequencies of G and P types among rotaviruses from Indian diarrheic cow and buffalo calves

While an increasing number of studies suggest that there is a high prevalen ce of rotaviruses with P8[11],a typical P type of bovine rotavirus (BRV), a mong human neonates or infants in India, no data are available on the distr ibution of G and P types of Indian BRVs, Thus, fecal specimens were collect ed from cow and buffalo calves under 1 month of age on organized daily farm s in India during the period between 1994 and 1997, and 36 rotavirus-positi ve specimens were used to determine the relative frequencies of the G and P types of Indian BRVs. As to the G type, G10 was predominant (83%), followe d by G6 (6%). The majority (94%) of BRVs had PS[11], and only one isolate p ossessed P6[1]. The most common combination of G and P types was G10P8[11] (81%), followed by G6P6[1] (3%) and G6P8[11] (3%). The high prevalence of B RVs possessing PS[11] VP4s strongly supports the hypothesis that BRVs may c ross the host species barrier and circulate among neonates in India.