Shif I, Silberstein I, Aboudy Y, Mendelson E, Mates A, Gotlieb-Stematsky T
Central Virology Laboratory, Ch, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.
Int J Epidemiol. 1992 Apr;21(2):399-405. doi: 10.1093/ije/21.2.399.
Each of three consecutive cold seasons (November-March) in the town of Tiberias, Israel, was dominated by one particular rotavirus serotype causing acute diarrhoea in the community: the 1987/88 season by serotype-2; 1988/89 by serotype-1 and 1989/90 by serotype-4. Each season was also characterized by a particular pattern of rotaviral RNA when visualized using electrophoresis in gels. RNA profiles of identical rota serotypes and serotypic prevalence for any given cold season were unique for the town of Tiberias and different from other localities throughout Israel. The meaning of these findings in terms of herd immunity is discussed.
