[Epidemiology of rotavirus infantile diarrhea in Istanbul using virus genome RNA electrophoresis].

Rotaviruses were detected using ELISA and latex agglutination, in 210 of 826 (25.4%) stool specimens collected from children with gastroenteritis between October 1984 and August 1990. In 82 of the 85 specimens (96%), Rotavirus specific RNA pattern was detected with polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and silver staining. In 44 of the 56 strains with long migration pattern, 20 different electropherotypes and in 25 of the 26 strains with short migration pattern, 9 different electropherotypes were seen, respectively. Of the remaining strains, 3 were accepted as having mixed RNA pattern since 15 or 16 bands were detected in electrophoresis and 2 strains (one from long; one from short migration pattern) showed an extra RNA band.