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Characterization of rotaviruses and subgroup F adenoviruses from acute summer gastroenteritis in South Africa
Author(s) -
Kidd A. H.,
Rosenblatt A.,
Besselaar T. G.,
Erasmus M. J.,
Tiemessen C. T.,
Berkowitz F. E.,
Schoub B. D.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
journal of medical virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9071
pISSN - 0146-6615
DOI - 10.1002/jmv.1890180208
Subject(s) - rotavirus , virology , acute gastroenteritis , viral shedding , biology , reoviridae , genome , virus , veterinary medicine , medicine , gene , genetics
Six hundred and sixteen specimens were collected from black children hospitalised with acute gastroenteritis during the summer and autumn of 1982–1983 (October to May). Eighty‐five children (13.8%) shed rotavirus and at least 40 (6.5%) shed adenovirus (Ad) type 40 or 41 belonging to subgroup F. The highest monthly prevalence of shedding subgroup F adenoviruses (10.1%) coincided with a peak in admissions in midsummer, whereas the highest monthly prevalence of shedding rotaviruses (41.9%) coincided with a peak in admissions in autumn. There were at least five genome types of rotavirus, at least three genome types of Ad40, and at least five genome types of Ad41 circulating in the Johannesburg‐Soweto area during the study period. The high rate of rotavirus shedding in autumn could not be attributed to an upsurge in infections by any particular rotavirus strain.