Characterisation of G8 human rotaviruses in Australian children with gastroenteritis

Abstract: This study describes the characterisation of G8 rotavirus strains isolated from humans with acute gastroenteritis. Six G8 strains were detected in Australia between 2002 and 2008. Four were G8P[14] strains, one was G8P[8]+ [14] and one was G8 P non-typeable. By polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and enzyme immurroassay analysis, four G8 strains with visible RNA exhibited a long electropherotype and five G8 strains displayed subgroup I specificity. Sequence analysis of the VP7 gene indicated that the G8 strains exhibited the highest nucleotide and amino acid identity with a G8P[11] bovine rotavirus strain detected in Japan. VP4 sequence data ofone G8P[14] strain revealed that the closest identity was to another human-bovine-like strain detected in Australia, MG6, a G6P[14] strain. The identification of G8 strains causing disease further extends the number of G8P[14] strains detected in Australian children, and indicates that there is a Fare but ongoing presence of uncommon human strains within the community in Australia. (c) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.