Characterization of unusual G8 rotavirus strains isolated from Egyptian children

We report the first detection of P[14], G8 rotaviruses isolated in Egypt fr om the stool of children participating in a 3 year study of rotavirus epide miology. Two strains, EGY1850 and EGY2295, were characterized by a serotypi ng enzyme immunoassay (EIA), virus neutralization, and sequence analysis of the genes encoding VP7 and the VP8* portion of the VP4 gene. These two str ains shared a high level of homology of their VP7s (87.8% nucleotide [nt], 97.2% amino acid [aa]) and VP4s (89.6% nt, 97.1% aa) and had the highest VP 7 identity to serotype G8 (>82% nt, >92% aa) and VP4 identity to genotype P [14] (greater than or equal to 81% nt, >91% aa) strains. Serological result s with a VP7 G8-specific and VP4 P[14]-specific neutralizing monoclonal ant ibodies supported the genetic classification of EGY1850 and EGY2295 as P[14 ], G8. Genogroup analysis supports earlier findings that human G8 rotavirus es may be genetically related to bovine rotaviruses. These findings demonst rate that our understanding of the geographic distribution of rotavirus str ains is incomplete, emphasize the need to monitor rotavirus serotypes, and extend the known distribution of serotype G8 and genotype P[14] strains in Africa.