Detection and sequencing of rotavirus VP7 gene from human materials (stools, sera, cerebrospinal fluids, and throat swabs) by reverse transcription and PCR.

Human rotavirus RNAs from stool samples, sera, cerebrospinal fluids, and throat swabs of 15 children with rotavirus gastroenteritis were detected and serotyped by reverse transcription and PCR. The reverse transcription-PCR method may allow us to consider rotavirus infections in other parts of the body in addition to the gastrointestinal tract. Moreover, sequence analysis of the VP7 gene was performed on seven samples (one stool, two serum, three cerebrospinal fluid, and 1 throat swab sample). There were no appreciable differences in viral sequences between samples from cerebrospinal fluids, sera, or stools.