Emergence of Serotype G12 Rotaviruses, Hungary

Abstract

We describe the emergence of serotype G12 rotaviruses (67 [6.9%] of 971 specimens tested) among children hospitalized with rotavirus gastroenteritis in Hungary during 2005. These findings are consistent with recent reports of the possible global spread and increasing epidemiologic importance of these strains, which may have implications for current rotavirus vaccination strategies.

Rotavirus genotypes in children in the Basque Country (northern Spain) over a 13-year period (July 1996–June 2009)

“…Human [P14] rotavirus strains have been reported exceptionally across the globe and probably represent occasional interspecies transmission from ruminants [28]. Likewise, we detected G-type 12 strains, which have recently spread throughout the world and are increasingly identified in Europe [14,25,29]. Of the 1,538 rotavirus strains investigated, 6.5% could not be G-and P-typed, a percentage that could be expected from the results of other studies [9,12].…”

Rotavirus Infection: A Perspective on Epidemiology, Genomic Diversity and Vaccine Strategies

“…In a study by IturrizaGomara et al [45], a collection of over 3000 rotavirus isolates collected during 1995-1998 indicated the presence of four common types, G1P [8], G2P [4], G3P [8] and G4P [8], that constituted over 94% of typed isolates [45]. However, uncommon strains like G1P [4], G2P [8], G4P [4], G9P [6] and G9P [8] were found in smaller frequencies. In contrast, an epidemiological survey conducted in India from 1986 to 1988, showed that 70% of strains belonged to the unusual combination of G9P [11] [29,74].…”

“…In two European studies, 38% of isolates belonged to G1P [8], 52% to G4P [8] and 3% to the unusual combination of G9P [8] [4,83]. In a North and central American study carried out in 1990-1992, 71% of isolates were of type G1P [8], with 20% of isolates belonging to either G3P [8] or the unusual type G1P [6] [75,83]. In a similar study carried out a few years later (1996-1997) the emergence of G9P [6] was observed, increasing from 0% (in 1990) to 6% [75].…”

“…Based on G and P type, a particular strain is known by describing its G and P types together, e.g. G1P2A [8], meaning this rotavirus strain belongs to G-type 1, P-serotype 2A and P-genotype 8. There has been complete agreement between the genotype and serotype of G types, but such agreement is not available for P types, due to difficulty in developing serological typing reagents, such as monoclonal antibodies, against VP4.…”

“…A survey conducted in 1993 showed equal distribution of the common strain G2P [4] and the unusual strain G9P [6], which were found in 21 and 24% of isolates, respectively in India [4,74]. In two European studies, 38% of isolates belonged to G1P [8], 52% to G4P [8] and 3% to the unusual combination of G9P [8] [4,83]. In a North and central American study carried out in 1990-1992, 71% of isolates were of type G1P [8], with 20% of isolates belonging to either G3P [8] or the unusual type G1P [6] [75,83].…”