First detection of a human astrovirus type 8 in a child with diarrhea in Belém, Brazil: comparison with other strains worldwide and identification of possible three lineages.

This study describes the genetic relationships of the first human astrovirus type-8 (HAstV-8) detected in Belém-Brazil, during a public hospital-based study. This strain was compared with other HAstV-8 strains identified elsewhere which have sequences available at GeneBank. The regions ORF1a (primers Mon348/Mon340) and ORF2 (primers Mon269/Mon270) were analyzed by nucleotide sequencing and a high similarity rate was observed among the Belém strain and other HAstV-8 strains.

Safety, immunogenicity, and protective efficacy of two doses of RIX4414 live attenuated human rotavirus vaccine in healthy infants.

Objective: To determine the safety, immunogenicity and efficacy of two doses of rotavirus vaccine in healthy Brazilian infants.

Methods: A randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in Brazil, Mexico and Venezuela. Infants received two oral doses of vaccine or placebo at 2 and 4 months of age, concurrently with routine immunizations, except for oral poliomyelitis vaccine (OPV).

Detection of a neonatal human rotavirus strain with VP4 and NSP4 genes of porcine origin.

A human rotavirus strain (NB-150) was detected in stool samples from a neonate hospitalized for mild/moderate community-acquired diarrhoea. This baby lived in the outskirts of Belém, Brazil, under poor sanitation conditions. The NB-150 strain displayed a typical long electrophoretic pattern with 11 gene segments.

Molecular analysis of VP4, VP7, and NSP4 genes of P[6]G2 rotavirus genotype strains recovered from neonates admitted to hospital in Belém, Brazil.

This investigation describes the molecular characterization of P[6]G2 rotavirus strains from hospitalized neonates with community-acquired diarrhea (CAD), nosocomial diarrhea (ND), and asymptomatic nosocomial infection (ANI) in Belém, Brazil. Twenty-six rotavirus strains with P[6]G2 genotype were sequenced to genes coding for VP4, VP7, and NSP4 proteins. Phylogenetic analysis of the VP4 gene, including prototype strains RV3, ST3, M37, and U1205, showed that local P[6]G2 strains clustered forming a distinct lineage (bootstrap of 99%).

Neonatal rotavirus infection in Belém, northern Brazil: nosocomial transmission of a P[6] G2 strain.

A total of 614 fecal specimens were obtained during a survey for rotavirus infection conducted between May 1996 and May 1998 among 437 newborns admitted to special care nurseries at a public hospital in the urban area of Belém, Brazil. Routine stool samples were taken weekly from all babies up to the age of 28 days. Overall, 51 (11.