Emergence and characterization of serotype G9 rotavirus strains from Africa.

Serotype G9 strains have been detected sporadically and in localized outbreaks in various African countries, including South Africa, Botswana, Malawi, Kenya, Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Libya, and Mauritius. Serotype G9 strains were analyzed to investigate genogroup characteristics, including subgroup specificity, electropherotype, and P and G genotypes. In addition, the antigenic composition of the South African G9 strains was assessed.

Determination of the G and P types of previously nontypeable rotavirus strains from the African Rotavirus Network, 1996-2004: Identification of unusual G types.

A total of 215 nontypeable rotavirus samples collected from children <5 years of age by members of the African Rotavirus Network were characterized using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis and sequencing. The most predominant strain identified was P[8]G1 (46.9%).

Prospective hospital-based surveillance to estimate rotavirus disease burden in the Gauteng and North West Province of South Africa during 2003-2005.

Background: Rotavirus is considered to be the most common cause of serious acute dehydrating diarrhea worldwide. However, there is a scarcity of information on rotavirus disease burden in sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods: We conducted prospective, hospital-based surveillance for rotavirus diarrhea among children <5 years of age at the tertiary care Dr.

Novel human rotavirus genotype G5P[7] from child with diarrhea, Cameroon.

We report characterization of a genotype G5P[7] human rotavirus (HRV) from a child in Cameroon who had diarrhea. Sequencing of all 11 gene segments showed similarities to > or =5 genes each from porcine and human rotaviruses. This G5P[7] strain exemplifies the importance of heterologous animal rotaviruses in generating HRV genetic diversity through reassortment.

Detection of an unusual human rotavirus strain with G5P[8] specificity in a Cameroonian child with diarrhea.

Rotavirus strains detected as part of ongoing strain surveillance in Cameroon, and whose first-round reverse transcription-PCR product could not be genotyped by using conventional genotyping primers, were subjected to sequence analysis for strain characterization. We detected for the first time in Africa a human rotavirus with G5 specificity. The Cameroonian G5 strain had a short electrophoretic pattern and was of VP6 subgroup I specificity and a VP4 P[8] type.