Molecular Characterization of Rotavirus Strains Circulating among Children with Acute Gastroenteritis in Madagascar during 2004-2005

A survey was undertaken of the etiology of acute gastroenteritis in children <16 years of age in Antananarivo, Madagascar, from May 2004 through May 2005. With use of electron microscopy of fecal specimens, 104 (36%) of 285 children were found to be infected with rotavirus. Rotavirus strain characterization was undertaken using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, electropherotyping, reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction genotyping, and nucleotide sequencing. The predominant group A rotavirus strain types identified were P[4]G2 (62%) and P[8]G9 (23%). Nucleotide sequence analysis of the VP7 genes of selected Malagasy G2 and G9 strains demonstrated similarity with those of other recently identified African rotavirus strains belonging to the same genotype.