Surveillance of rotavirus strains in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 1997 to 1999

One hundred fifty-seven (23%; n = 678) rotavirus-positive stool samples were collected between March 1997 and December 1999 in the cites of Rio de Janeiro and Niteroi. Rotaviruses in 143 (91%) samples were genotyped by reverse transcription-PCR for G and/or P specificity. Rotaviruses in the majority of G-P-typeable samples (73.3%; 74 of 101) were identified as having globally common genotypes GIP[8], G2P[4], G3P[8], and G4P [8]. Unusual strains such as GIP [9], G2 [P8], G3P [9], and G9P [4] strains were detected in 8.9% (9 of 101) of the samples. Genotypes G9P[8], G9P[6], and a mixture of G9 and other G or P types represented 15.9% (25 of 157) of the isolates. Mixed infections were detected in 25 (15.9%) samples, and rotaviruses in 15 samples (9.6%) were not typed.