Molecular epidemiology of human rotavirus infection in Coro, Venezuela.

From December 1984 to December 1987, rotaviruses were detected in 115 (24%) of 470 hospitalized children, by electrophoretic analysis of viral RNA. Three peaks of increased incidence were observed, coincident with the cooler months of each year. Rotavirus was found in 31% of the children with diarrhea and in 47% of those who were severely dehydrated. Vomiting was significantly associated with rotavirus shedding in diarrheic children. Eleven electropherotypes were identified, showing a sequential pattern of appearance. Strains exhibiting a "short" pattern were present in 10% of the positive cases. The rate of infection increased to 71% in march 1987, when a mixed infection with two genotypically different strains was found and when electropherotypes with an extra RNA segment appeared.