Between April and December 1993, we determined P and G genotypes of group A rotavirus strains obtained from children admitted to diarrhea treatment centers in five Indian cities. From a total of 63 rotavirus-positive specimens, we identified 10 different strains with five different G genotypes and four distinct P types by using reverse transcription-PCR. The common worldwide strains G 1 P 8 , G 2 P 4 , G 3 P 8 , and G 4 P 8 were underrepresented among Indian children (33%), whereas strains of P type 6 (G 1 P 6 , G 2 P 6 , G 3 P 6 , G 4 P 6 , and G 9 P 6 ), which primarily infect asymptomatic newborns but are rare in children with diarrhea were common in India (43%). Of these, G 9 P 6 , a strain not previously reported to be found in children with diarrhea, was the most prevalent (22%). Eleven percent of the strains were nontypeable, and another 11% of the specimens had mixed infections. Using digoxigenin-labeled, genotype-specific hybridization probes, we confirmed all G 9 strains and mixed infections tested and identified three nontypeable strains (one G 9 and two P 8 ). The epidemiological significance of G 9 rotavirus strains, if confirmed in other settings, may have important implications for vaccine development.

This kit formulation has the potential for imaging bacterial infections with much higher sensitivity and specificity as compared to other Tc-99m-labeled antibiotics available as convenient ready-to-use kits in routine clinical practice.

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