Human rotavirus RNA electropherotypes detected during four years of gastroenteritis studies in Tucumán, Argentina.

: Between May 1986 and November 1989 a total of 796 faecal samples obtained from children with symptoms of acute diarrhea were analyzed. Rotavirus (RV) was detected in 166 cases by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the viral RNA (PAGE) (Fig. 1). This technique allowed us to identify 19 different electropherotypes (EPT) eleven with a long pattern and 8 with a short one (Fig. 2). Two EPT's were dominant during this study; one detected in 1986 only and the other one in 1987, 1988 and 1989. During the last months of 1989 a new EPT was detected. The 8 EPT's with short patterns were the causative organisms of an outbreak during the cold season of 1987 (Table 2). These results show that the rotaviral infection is endemic in the province of Tucuman, as well as its prevalence during the winter season (Table 1).