Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to G M Beards.
A new commercial test for the diagnosis of rotavirus gastroenteritis was assessed. With some modifications it compared favourably with electron microscopy and immunofluorescence.
A neutralisation test using cell culture and indirect immunofluorescence was applied to isolates of rotavirus from 55 patients with gastroenteritis, in order to determine serotypes. Frequent cross-reactions were observed, but subsequent statistical analysis confirmed the existence of at least three distinct serotypes. Some results, not sufficient for analysis, suggest that at least five serotypes probably exist. It is suggested that two or more viral polypeptides might be involved in neutralisation, one of which might be common to another serotype(s). This would explain the frequent cross-reactions detected by this neutralisation test. Evidence suggesting that some strains may be hybrids is also presented.
A method is described for the specific detection of antibody to individual rotavirus serotypes in sera. A competitive enzyme immunoassay (EIA) was developed in which rotavirus serotype-specific monoclonal antibodies against VP7 compete with antibodies in test sera for rotavirus serotype-specific antigen bound to a solid phase. There was an excellent correlation between serotype-specific EIA results and serotype-specific neutralization titres (r = 0.915, P = less than 0.001). The value of this method for rotavirus epidemiology and vaccine trials is discussed.
Rotavirus subgroups and serotypes were determined in 61 rotavirus-positive faecal samples obtained from children living in Belém, Brazil, followed up from birth to 3 years of age. Fifty-five (90%) of the specimens were subgrouped and the serotypes of 30 (49%) of them were determined. Subgroup II was detected in 49 (89%) of the 55 subgrouped strains. Serotype 1 was present in 15 (50%) of the 30 serotyped samples; serotypes 2, 3 and 4 were found in 30%, 3.3% and 16.7% respectively, of these specimens. Absence of Vp7, the major outer capsid glycoprotein, did not allow serotyping in 21 (34.4%) of the 61 rotavirus-positive specimens, and an unidentifiable new serotype was found in faeces of one child. In addition, 4 samples were classified as subgroup II serotype 2 (which is very unusual). Twelve (80%) of the 15 serotype 1 (subgroup II) specimens were collected from children (5 of them asymptomatic) during their first year of life. All 9 serotype 2 (subgroups I, II, or not determined) samples were detected during the second and third years of life, 7 (77.8%) of them were related to apparent infections. The 5 serotype 4 (subgroup II) samples were obtained throughout the study period, and were associated with both symptomatic (3 cases) and asymptomatic infections. Thirteen children had more than 1 rotavirus infection. Three had 3 successive infections. In 3 cases, the initial infection (either symptomatic or asymptomatic) caused by serotype 1, was followed by a subsequent diarrhoeic episode associated with serotype 2.