0000000000729584
AUTHOR
N. Passarani
Electropherotyping of human rotaviruses: An epidemiological survey of rotavirus infections in Sicily
An electrophoretic analysis of rotavirus RNA segments was carried out on 522 faecal specimens, obtained from children hospitalized in Sicily in the period 1981/85. One hundred and one viral isolates could be characterized with respect to the electrophoretic pattern of their genomic RNAs. This analysis revealed that in 1981/82 different electropherotypes cocirculated in the infant population. In 1983 one of the patterns became prevalent; in 1984/85 only one electropherotype was detected, both in Palermo and Catania specimens. The serotyping showed that all viral strains with the prevalent electropherotype were subgroup II and serotype 1. These results contrast with the extensive genome varia…
Electropherotype heterogeneity within serotypes of human rotavirus strains circulating in Italy
Using solid-phase immune electron microscopy, 126 of 129 human rotavirus (HRV) strains could be serotyped directly in stools collected in Italy during the period 1981–1985. Prevalence was 70.5 per cent for serotype 1, and 13.2 per cent for each of serotypes 2 and 4. No serotype 3 strain was detected. In parallel, for 39 of 61 HRV strains tested the electropherotype of genomic RNA was successfully determined. Different electropherotypes were detected among strains of the same serotype, whereas the same electropherotype was found in HRV strains of different serotypes. Serotyping and electropherotyping of HRV strains appear to be complementary to each other, and both should be used in conjunct…