Distribution of Rotavirus VP4 Genotypes and VP7 Serotypes among Nonhospitalized and Hospitalized Patients with Gastroenteritis and Patients with Nosocomially Acquired Gastroenteritis in Austria

Abstract

ABSTRACT To assess the potential benefits of a reassortant tetravalent rotavirus vaccine, we investigated stool specimens from children in three different groups by reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) for rotavirus G and P types: (i) children not hospitalized with community-acquired rotavirus-acute gastroenteritis (RV-AGE), (ii) children hospitalized for RV-AGE, and (iii) children with nosocomially acquired RV-AGE. From a total of 553 samples investigated, 335 were positive by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, of which 294 (88%) were positive by RT-PCR. Among the RT-PCR-positive samples, the predominant types were G1P[8] (84%), followed by G4P[8] (9%) and G3P[8] (2%). No differences between the three groups were observed, suggesting that community vaccination will diminish the most cost-relevant cases of hospitalizations and nosocomial infections.