Rotavirus electrophoretypes in infantile gastro-enteritis. An epidemiological study

From January first 1978 to September 30, 1981, 93 fecal samples from children hospitalized with a rotavirus gastro-enteritis were tested after RNA extraction and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. 14 electrophoretypes (TI--T14) were identified by this technique. They were studied in relation with epidemiological as well as clinical symptoms. No electrophoretype correlated well with age or living area. The electrophoretype T3 was found only in male infants and the electrophoretype T7 was 3 times more frequent in boys than in girls. The electrophoretype T4 was prevailing during the winter 1980-1981 and the electrophoretype T5 prevailed during the summer 1981. 19 infants were probably contaminated during their stay in the hospital, 9 of them with the electrophoretype T4 prevailing at that time. The prevalence of associated otitis and rash was significantly higher with the electrophoretype T3. The polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis technique appears to be a simple, and reliable epidemiological tool to evaluate rotavirus infection in communities.