A naturally attenuated, human neonatal strain, rotavirus vaccine candidate RV3, was tested in a limited phase II randomized double-blind controlled trial. Doses of 1
ml, containing placebo or 6.5×10
...5 fluorescent cell forming units (fcfu) of virus in AGMK cells, were given at 3, 5 and 7 months of age. Limited replication in the small intestine is implied by the lack of virus excretion, and by the occurrence of an immune response in only 46% of the infants. However, those who developed an immune response were partially protected against rotavirus disease during the subsequent winter epidemic (protective efficacy 54%), supporting observations of protection induced by natural infection by this strain. Protection appeared to be heterotypic. Further trials are warranted, employing strategies to increase immunogenicity of this human rotavirus candidate vaccine.
Rotaviruses are the major cause of severe gastroenteritis in young children worldwide. As part of a national surveillance program, rotavirus-positive fecal samples collected from children under 5 ...years of age admitted to the New Children's Hospital, Sydney, Australia, between June and August 1999 were transported to our laboratory. Preliminary analysis (using Northern hybridization, EIA, and RT-PCR) of nonreactive rotavirus samples from stored collections has identified G9 viruses in specimens collected in Melbourne (one isolate) and Perth (two isolates) in 1997. In summary, we have detected the first serotype G9 Australian rotavirus isolates and extended the global distribution of this emerging serotype.
This report from the Australian Rotavirus Surveillance Network describes the circulating rotavirus genotypes identified in children and adults during the period 1 January - 31 December 2020. During ...this period, 229 faecal specimens were referred for rotavirus G- and P- genotype analysis, including 189 samples that were confirmed as rotavirus positive. Of these, 98/189 were wildtype rotavirus strains and 86/189 were identified as vaccine-like. A further five samples could not be determined as wildtype or vaccine-like due to poor sequence reads. Genotype analysis of the 98 wildtype rotavirus samples from both children and adults demonstrated that G3P8 was the dominant genotype identified for the third consecutive year, identified in 27.6% of samples, followed by G2P4 in 20.4% of samples. Forty-six percent of rotavirus positive samples received were identified as vaccine-like, highlighting the need to add caution in interpreting rotavirus positive results in children aged 0-8 months. This surveillance period was significantly impacted by the coronavirus disease 2019 ( COVID-19 ) pandemic. The reduction in rotavirus notifications reflected reduced healthcare-seeking behaviour and a decrease in community spread, with 'community lockdowns', school and day-care centre closure and improved compliance with hand hygiene. Fewer stool samples were collected throughout Australia during this period. There was a reluctance to store samples at collaborating laboratories and uncertainties regarding the safety and feasibility of the transport of samples to the central laboratory during the closure of state and territory borders. Systems have now been adapted to manage and send biological samples safely and confidently. Ongoing rotavirus surveillance is crucial to identify changes in genotypic patterns and to provide diagnostic laboratories quality assurance by reporting incidences of wildtype, vaccine-like, or false positive rotavirus results.
This study supports the hypothesis that feces from asymptomatic adults may provide a vehicle for the transmission of rotavirus, in addition to aerosols, hands, and fomites. The observed preferential ...carriage of serotype G1 strains in the adult gastrointestinal tract may explain G1 predominance and persistence in epidemiologic studies worldwide. (J Pediatr 2003;142:722-5)
The National Rotavirus Reference Centre, together with collaborating laboratories Australia-wide, conducts a laboratory based rotavirus surveillance program. This report describes the serotypes of ...rotavirus strains responsible for the hospitalisation of children with acute gastroenteritis during the period 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007. One thousand and two faecal samples from across Australia were examined using a combined approach of monoclonal antibody immunoassays, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and polyacrylamide gel analysis. Serotype G1 was the dominant serotype nationally, representing 36.7% of all strains, followed by serotype G9 (31.1%), and serotype G3 (23.3%). Serotype G2 represented less than 5% of strains, while no serotype G4 strains were identified. All G1, G3 and G9 strains assayed for P genotype contained the P8 genotype, bar one G1 strain, which possessed a P6. Uncommon rotavirus genotypes, G8 (n = 1) and G12 (n = 2) were identified in children with acute gastroenteritis during this study period.
The National Rotavirus Reference Centre together with collaborating laboratories Australia-wide has conducted rotavirus surveillance since June 1999. This report describes the serotypes of rotavirus ...strains responsible for the hospitalisation of children with acute gastroenteritis during the period 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2006. Eight hundred and forty-eight faecal samples from across Australia were examined using monoclonal antibody immunoassays, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and polyacrylamide gel analysis. Serotype G1 was the dominant serotype nationally, representing 40.2 per cent of all strains, followed by serotype G4 (22.6%), serotype G9 (15.1%) and serotype G3 (14.7%). Genotype G12 strains were identified for the first time in Australia. As in previous years, there was substantial geographic variation in the prevalence of rotavirus serotypes.
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