Molecular epidemiology of human rotaviruses

Abstract

SUMMARY The molecular epidemiology of rotavirus infections in Glasgow and the west of Scotland during 1981/82 and 1982/83 was investigated by electron microscopy, ELISA testing and RNA migration pattern analysis. In 1981/82, rotaviruses of both the ' long ' and the ' short ' electropherotype (in different variants) co-circulated from the onset throughout the winter peak of the outbreak. Approximately 80 °/O of the children were infected during the first year of life. No diSerences in incidence were found between sexes. In 1982/83 the isolated rotaviruses were almost exclusively of the 'long ' electropherotype (in different variants) and 36 °/O of the children were infected beyond the first year of life. Rotaviruses of the 'long' electropherotype serologically were of subgroup II and serotype 1 and those of the ' short ' electropherotype of subgroup I and serotype 2.