Analysis of human rotavirus serotypes in children with acute diarrhoea in Chennai by monoclonal antibody based ELISA.

To determine the individual human rotavirus serotypes prevailing in Chennai, 345 stool specimens obtained from children with acute diarrhoea between March 1996 and November 1997, were screened for the presence of rotavirus by the standardized enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Of the 90 (26%) rotavirus positive specimens, 75 (83.3%) were subgrouped and 65 (72.2%) were serotyped with monoclonal antibody based ELISA. Of the 65 specimens that could be serotyped, 52.3 per cent belonged to serotype 2, 24.6 per cent were serotype 4, 15.4 per cent were serotype 1 and 7.7 per cent were serotype 3. Of the 75 specimens typed for their subgroup specificity, 50.7 per cent were subgroup I, 26.7 per cent were subgroup II, 18.7 per cent were equally specific to both subgroups I and II, 4 per cent belonged to nonsubgroups I and II. Our results indicate a predominance of serotype 2 virus. Unusual strain having both subgroups I and II specificity or neither specificity were also encountered.