Search

Human rotavirus genotypes G1-G4, G9, P[4] and P[8] are major worldwide causes of acute gastroenteritis in children. Rotavirus genotype G1P[8] is predominant in many countries. In this study, the genotypic diversity of group A rotaviruses were detected in children5 years of age who were treated for dehydration and diarrhea in Tehran, Iran from October 2004 to September 2008.A total of 700 stool specimens were collected from children and assessed for the presence of rotaviruses by the dsRNA-PAGE technique. G and P typing of the positive samples were performed by semi-nested multiplex RT-PCR.Rotaviruses were isolated in 19% of samples. A total of 14 rotavirus dsRNA different electrophoretypes were detected. The predominant genotype was G1 (76.3%), followed by G4 (11.5%), G8 (0.8%), P[4] (9.2%) and P[8] (66.4%), respectively. In mixed type samples, the majority were of genotype G1P[8] (53.4%), followed by G1P[4] (9.2%) and G4P[8] (4.6%). Mixed types consisted of 3.1% of the total sample followed by G1G2/-P (1.5%), G1G4P[4] (0.8%) and G1G4P[8] (0.8%).In this study, a high prevalence of the G1P[8] genotype was determined to be the cause of childhood gastroenteritis in Tehran, Iran. The sequence of G and P genotypes showed high levels of similarity to strains from other Asian countries. Our data will be useful for future vaccine formulation in Iran.

Human rotavirus has now been established as the most important cause of childhood gastroenteritis worldwide. The RNA genomic electrophoretic diversity of group A rotavirus strains in Tehran, Iran, during April 2002 through March 2005, was investigated in 1250 stool specimens.Stool samples were obtained from young children with acute gastroenteritis. RNA electrophoretype of group A rotavirus strains was determined using RNA polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in those samples found to be positive for rotavirus by enzyme immunoassay.The predominant RNA profile detected was the long electrophoretype (90%) followed by the short profile (8.8%). Four patients (1.1%) had patterns of mixed infection. Fourteen different electrophoretic RNA patterns, eight of long and six of short, were detected in the study area. A long RNA electrophoretype persisted during the years of the study with peak incidence in cool seasons. The long pattern occurred throughout the study period and in patients aged one to 60 months, but the short profile identified only in infants at varying intervals.Our data demonstrate epidemiologic differences between the incidence of long and short electrophoretypes. The long profiles appear to circulate continuously in the area, whereas the short patterns appear in an episodic fashion.