First isolation and characterisation of human Rotavirus alphagastroenteritidis from cerebrospinal fluid in Malaysia

Rotavirus infection is a major cause of paediatric gastroenteritis and has increasingly been associated with neurological complications, although direct evidence of central nervous system involvement remains limited. In this study, Rotavirus A was detected in both cerebrospinal fluid and stool samples from a child presenting with encephalopathy and seizures, and infectious virus was successfully propagated in mammalian cell lines. Genomic analysis revealed a Wa-like genotype constellation, G1-P[8]-I1-R1-C1-M1-A1-N1-T1-E1-H1. Although lateral flow immunoassay yielded negative results, molecular diagnostic approaches proved valuable for identifying atypical RVA infections.