The molecular epidemiology of rotavirus infection in Ga-Rankuwa, southern Africa.

Rotaviruses were detected in 32.8 pc (96/292) of stool specimens collected from infants and young children with gastroenteritis attending the rehydration unit at Ga-Rankuwa Hospital between January and December 1989. A seasonal distribution was observed with an increase in numbers shedding the virus during the colder months of the year. Based on variations in the migration pattern of the RNA genome segments when passed through polyacrylamide gels, seven different RNA electrophoretypes were identified; 82 pc of the patients had virus with long patterns and 17 pc with short patterns. A mixed infection was observed in one case with both a long and a short virus. A single dominant long electrophoretype persisted throughout the 12 month study period, whereas the other minor types co-circulated at varying intervals.