An unusual outbreak of rotavirus genotype G2P[6] during the 2005-2006 epidemic season in Philadelphia.

Most rotavirus gastroenteritis is caused by G1P[8] strains. When G2 infections are encountered, the P type has most often been reported to be P[4]. The purpose of our study was to describe an unusual outbreak of G2P[6] cases.

Novel rotavirus VP7 typing assay using a one-step reverse transcriptase PCR protocol and product sequencing and utility of the assay for epidemiological studies and strain characterization, including serotype subgroup analysis.

Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe dehydrating gastroenteritis in infants. To date, 10 different serotypes of rotavirus have been identified in human stools. While four or five serotypes dominate, serotype circulation varies with season and geography.