With a few exceptions subgroup I group A human rotavirus strains have short RNA patterns, whereas most animal rotavirus strains belong to subgroup I and have long RNA patterns. Thus, new isolates of subgroup I human rotaviruses with long RNA patterns are considered to have a high likelihood of being animal rotaviruses. A group of human rotaviruses represented by the AU-1 strain has recently been shown to be genetically related to a feline rotavirus (FRV-1) isolated in Japan. A human rotavirus, strain Rol845, which is similar to the AU-1 strain in its subgroup (I), serotype (3), and electropherotype (long), was compared with various human and animal strains by RNA-RNA hybridization to determine its genogroup, a term proposed to classify rotaviruses based on their gene homology. The Rol845 strain did not show a significant level of homology with AU-1, FRV-1, or other human strains, indicating that the Rol845 strain is different in its genogroup not only from the AU-1 strain but also from other human strains. However, the Rol845 strain showed a high degree of homology with another feline rotavirus (Cat97) isolated previously in Australia, suggesting that the Rol845 strain might originate from a feline rotavirus that is genetically distinct from the Japanese FRV-1 strain. Furthermore, the Rol845 strain as well as the Cat97 strain were related genetically to the canine rotavirus RS15 strain. Taken together, these results indicate that at least two genogroups are present in feline rotaviruses, one resembling the AU-1 strain and the other resembling the Rol845 strain as well as canine rotaviruses.

Immuno-enzymatic assay employing monoclonal antibodies and viral RNA analysis by gel electrophoresis were used to classify human group A rotaviruses (HRV) into subgroups I and II. Of 249 fecal samples positive for group A rotaviruses, 29 (11%) belonged to subgroup I and 215 (85%) were identified as subgroup II. Two samples (Ro-302 and Ro-500) contained mixed infections of the two subgroups. Three isolates belonged to neither one of the two subgroups, but they did not yield enough viral RNA to allow their classification. One subgroup I isolate (Ro-1845) contained components typical of subgroup II viruses in that it was identical to serotype 3 and yielded RNA with fast-moving 10th and 11th segments. After growth in culture, the two mixed infections yielded subgroup II viruses, which were identified as serotype 1. The three unclassified isolates grew poorly in culture and could not be further analyzed. The subgroup I isolate (Ro-1845) grew well in culture and yielded virus similar to the original one.

Distribution of antibodies to herpes simplex type 1 (HSV1), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV) and measles virus (MV) was studied in sera and cerebrospinal fluids (CSF) of 41 patients with schizophrenia, 27 patients with primary affective disorders and 25 control patients with neurological diseases. No significant differences in distribution and mean geometric titers (GMT) of antibodies to HSV1 between the psychiatric and control groups were found. Distribution and GMT of antibodies to EBV were highly significant in psychiatric patients as compared to controls with highest titers in the affective disorder group. Antibodies to HSV1 were present in 15 CSF specimens of psychiatric patients with reduced CSF/serum ratio in 4, and low levels of antibodies were detected in 8 control patients. Antibodies to EBV-VCA were detected in 4 CSFs of psychiatric patients. Total protein levels were determined in CSF specimens and no correlation with antibodies was found. No significant differences in distribution of antibodies to CMV or MV in the three study groups were found. No antibodies to CMV were demonstrated in CSFs and in one specimen from a patient and two controls antibodies to MV were detected.