Characterization of rotaviral RNA isolated from children with gastroenteritis in Poland.

Rotaviruses were detected in 37% (331/895) of stool specimens collected from children with gastroenteritis attending three hospitals in Warsaw between January 1981 and March 1994. An analysis of rotavirus electrophoretypes circulating in Warsaw and Cracow, Poland, over 6 years showed that all 176 electrophoretypes encountered were characteristic of group A rotaviruses. Based on variations in the migration pattern of RNA genome segments when passed through polyacrylamide gels, 10 different electrophoretypes were identified: 86% were long patterns and 14% were short patterns. Mixed infections were observed in two cases.