Group A rotavirus G type prevalence in two regions of Hungary

Rotaviruses are a major cause of gastroenteritis in children worldwide. Rotaviruses are antigenically complex, with multiple serotypes (G types). The first longitudinal study of group A rotavirus serotype (G type) distribution in Hungary is reported. Neutralizing monoclonal antibodies specific for G1, G2, G3, and G4 were used in an enzyme immunoassay to determine the antigenic variation of group A rotaviruses in two collections of stool specimens assembled from 1984–1992 in Baranya County, southwest Hungary, and from 1988–1992 at the Central Hospital for Infectious Diseases in Budapest. Ninety-two percent of the 1215 virus-positive samples were typed as follows: G1 (81%), G2 (4%), G3 (1%), G4 (5%), or mixed type (1%). G1 was the predominant type during the entire study period with the exception of the 1988/1989 rotavirus season in Baranya County when G4 predominated. Among G1 strains, different electropherotypes were detected with a shift of the predominant G1 electropherotype(s) each 2 to 3 years. G typing from two longitudinal collections established regional differences within Hungary in the prevalence of rotavirus antigenic types among children with rotavirus-associated diarrhea. These are the first longitudinal rotavirus typing results for Hungary and Central Europe.