Neonatal rotavirus infection in Belém, Northern Brazil: Nosocomial transmission of a P[6] G2 strain

Abstract

A total of 614 fecal specimens were obtained during a survey for rotavirus infection conducted between May 1996 and May 1998 among 437 newborns admitted to special care nurseries at a public hospital in the urban area of Belém, Brazil. Routine stool samples were taken weekly from all babies up to the age of 28 days. Overall, 51 (11.7%) of the neonates excreted rotaviruses while in hospital, of whom 42 (82.3%) developed asymptomatic nosocomial infection; nosocomial infection was also proved in five of the nine patients with diarrhea. Three distinct RNA profiles were detected, of which one short electropherotyping pattern was far more frequent ( approximately 90% of the strains). Using monoclonal antibody-based enzyme immunoassays, 32 (62.7%) of the rotavirus-positive strains were classified as G2, and 1 (1.9%) as mixed G1 and G2. A G serotype could not be assigned to 18 (35.3%) of the isolates. A reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was used for determining the VP4 type-specificity of a subset of 28 rotavirus-positive samples. Characterization of the VP7-genotype specificity was also sought for 18 of these latter strains. Overall, P[6] and G2 genotypes were identified in 93% and 94% of tested samples respectively, with results being further confirmed by Southern hybridization. Although surveillance was conducted during a 25-month period, 50 (98%) of 51 rotavirus isolates clustered between January and December 1997. The earliest [P6]G2 rotavirus infections were detected by late January 1997, involving two (13- and 14-day-old) babies admitted with acute diarrhea. Thereafter, strains bearing these genotype specificities were identified among five infants with hospital-acquired gastroenteritis, followed by 16 others who were infected asymptomatically. This is the first report from Brazil describing nosocomial transmission of P[6]G2 rotavirus strains among neonates.

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

“…This is also in agreement with other studies conducted in São Paulo (13) and in the Eastern Amazon region (6,23). Studies of the interaction and importance of different pathogenic E. coli strains associated with acute diarrhea in Brazil have not fully clarified this issue.…”

Serological and molecular diversity of human rotavirus in São Paulo, Brazil

“…P[6-M37 like] was the third most frequently found, in 12/54 (22.3%) samples. This strain was detected before in several countries, including Brazil (7,8,26). In our data, P[6-M37 like] was associated with G2 alone, and with G1, G3, G4, G5, G9 in mixtures (Table 4), as in most parts of the world (38,41).…”

Spike Protein VP8* of Human Rotavirus Recognizes Histo-Blood Group Antigens in a Type-Specific Manner

“…Since the P [6] RVs bind H type 1 only, the higher prevalence of P [6] RVs in the African countries could be due to a higher rate of the Le aϪbϪ phenotypes in these regions. However, high prevalence or endemicity of P [6] RVs has also been reported for India and for non-African newborn infants (3,12,30,35). One report did not show association of secretor status with RV infection in children (1).…”