Study of the circulation dynamic of rotavirus sample through their electropherotypes

Abstract

An epidemiological study was carried out to detect rotavirus associated with cases of acute childhood diarrhea and to observe the circulation dynamics of these viruses on the basis of the electrophoresis profiles of the samples. The fecal specimens were obtained from 0-5-year-old children during 2005 and 2006. Among 55 positive samples detected through an immunoenzymatic test, which were subjected to the technique of electrophoresis in gel of polyacrylamide, it was possible to define the electrophoresis profile of 37 (62 %), with eight distinct profiles observed, all compatible with rotavirus of group A. This allowed the study of the profiles to accompany the dynamics of their circulation, showing that in 2005, all the samples presented long profiles, so-called L1 to L4. Samples of profile L2 appeared in the May and predominated up to August, being substituted by samples of profile L1 and L4 which co-circulated in September. In 2006, a few samples of long profile (L1 and L2) were detected, completing a total of 14 % (3/22), which circulated in May and June. Most of the positive samples of this year (86 % = 19/22) presented short profiles, substituting for those of long profile, from July. The co-circulation of samples with different short and long profiles reveals the extensive genetic variability which the rotavirus can present, within the same period.

KEYWORDS: Diarrhea. Rotavirus. Electrophoresis.