Detection and serotyping of rotaviruses in stool specimens by using reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction amplification.

Direct rotavirus serotyping (VP7, G type) in stool specimens was carried out by reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction amplification (RT-PCR) and compared to serotyping by enzyme immunoassay with monoclonal antibodies (EIA-MAb). The methods used for double-stranded (ds) RNA extraction, RT-PCR amplification, and the primers used were modified from previous reports [Gouvea et al.: Journal of Clinical Microbiology 29:519-523, 1990; Gentsch et al.: Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 1992]. For samples that were positive by both methods, the serotypes obtained were identical, however RT-PCR typing was found to be considerably more sensitive (70.4% samples serotyped) than EIA-MAb (35.6% of samples serotyped). The overall sensitivities for detection of rotavirus in stool samples by latex agglutination, enzyme immunoassay, electron microscopy, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and RT-PCR were essentially the same. The results confirm that RT-PCR typing (genotyping) is extremely valuable for G typing of samples which cannot be typed by EIA-MAb. We also developed a PCR confirmation technique for serotypes 1, 2, and 4.