SEVERITY OF ROTAVIRUS INFECTION IN RELATION TO SEROTYPE, MONOTYPE AND ELECTROPHEROTYPE

The aim of this study was to determine whether the severity of symptoms associated with rotavirus infection was related to the serotype of the infecting virus. Severity of clinical symptoms in 108 children admitted to hospital for treatment of rotavirus diarrhoea was retrospectively assessed using a scoring system for frequency and duration of vomiting and diarrhoea, degree of fever, acidosis and dehydration, and presence of electrolyte imbalance. Children were 6-30 months old and were fully weaned at onset of symptoms prior to admission to hospital. No other enteric pathogens were detected during the course of the illness. Serotypes and monotypes were identified using a panel of monoclonal antibodies. Gel electrophoresis of rotavirus RNA was performed to determine electropherotypes. Children surveyed were infected with serotype 1 (47), serotype 2 (15) or serotype 4 (46) rotaviruses. Comparisons of severity of clinical symptoms according to infecting serotype revealed no statistically significant differences between serotype 1, 2 or 4 infections. In addition, no differences were detected between different rotavirus strains within each serotype (as judged by electropherotype) including monotypes la or lc. This study failed to reveal differences in virulence between rotavirus strains of different VP7 serotypes infecting young children.