Characterization of rotavirus P genotypes circulating among paediatric inpatients in Northern Brazil

Abstract

Between November 1992 and August 1993, twenty-eight rotavirus-positive stool samples obtained from paediatric inpatients in Belem, Brazil, aged less than four years, were tested by RT-PCR to determine the P genotype specificities. With the exception of 7 non-diarrhoeic children, all patients were either diarrhoeic at admission or developed diarrhoea while in hospital. Rotavirus strains with the gene 4 alleles corresponding to P1B[4] and P1A[8] types (both of which bearing G2 specificity) predominated, accounting for 78.6% of the strains. While only one P2A[6] type strain - with (mixed) G1 and 4 type specificities - was detected, the gene 4 allele could not be identified in 4 (14.3%) of the strains. Most (81%) of the specimens were obtained from children during their first 18 months of life. Rotavirus strains bearing single P1B[4] type-specificity were identified in both diarrhoeic (either nosocomial, 28.6% or community-acquired diarrhoea, 28.6%) and non-diarrhoeic (42.8%) children. P1A[8] gene 4 allele, on the other hand, was detected only among diarrhoeic children, at rates of 57.1% and 42.9% for nosocomial- and- community acquired diarrhoea, respectively. Mixed P1A[8],1B[4] type infection was identified in only one case of community-acquired diarrhoea.

Detection and Characterization of Rotavirus G and P Types from Children Participating in a Rotavirus Vaccine Trial in Belém, Brazil

“…Working with hospitalized children in Belém, Mascarenhas et al (1999) characterized 86% of isolates, in contrast with the present investigation when genotype P characterization was obtained in 95.5% of isolates.…”

Epidemiologia das infecções por rotavírus no Brasil e os desafios para o seu controle

“…Em Belém, por exemplo, observou-se que o genótipo P[8], G1 predominou amplamente à época em que se desenvolveu estudo prospectivo no âmbito comunitário (1982 a 1986), corroborando achados pregressos concernentes aos sorotipos predominantes (Linhares et al, 1988b;Mascarenhas et al, 1998). Estudo mais recente (1992 a 1994) no contexto hospitalar, por sua vez, registrou expressiva ocorrência do tipo P[4] -correlato ao G2 -, consubstanciando resultados estabelecidos anteriormente em bases antigênicas (Gusmão et al, 1995;Gusmão et al, 1999;Mascarenhas et al, 1999). Note-se, Linhares et al (1988b), [1982][1983][1984][1985][1986]; Linhares et al (1993), [1988]; Linhares et al (1996), [1990][1991][1992]; Gusmão et al (1999), [1992][1993][1994]; Linhares et al (dados não publicados), [1996][1997]; e Gabbay (comunicação pessoal), [1998].…”

Etiology of diarrheal infections in children of Porto Velho (Rondonia, Western Amazon region, Brazil)

“…Studies in the Amazon region are even more infrequent. In the city of Belém, Linhares and co-workers (6,16) identified rotavirus as the major etiological agent of infant diarrhea and studied the subgroups of viruses found in nosocomial cases (6,16).…”