Serotype variation of human group A rotaviruses in two regions of the USA

The first longitudinal study of group A rotavirus serotype distribution in the USA is reported. ELISAs incorporating neutralizing monoclonal antibodies specific for the VP7 protein of serotypes 1, 2, 3, and 4 were used to determine the antigenic variation of group A rotaviruses in two collections of stool specimens. Stool samples were collected from children hospitalized during 1979-1989 at Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, and from children from a more rural population hospitalized during 1981-1989 in the north-central USA. The predominant serotype varied from year to year in Houston, with serotypes 1, 3, and 4 each predominant in 1 or more years. In the north-central population only serotype 1 was predominant each year. Within a single rotavirus season in the Houston area, serotypes were not equally distributed by week of the season or county of residence. These differences in the distribution of serotypes have broad implications for the design and interpretation of vaccine programs.