Genetic and antigenic analysis of human rotavirus prevalent in Al-Taif, Saudi Arabia.

The subgroup, serotype and electropherotype diversity of human rotavirus strains was investigated in Al-Taif, Saudi Arabia. Out of 349 faecal samples collected from diarrhoeic children, 150 (43 percent) tested rotavirus positive by a group-A specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The majority (87 percent) of the infected children were below 2 years of age. Subgrouping and serotyping of rotaviruses with specific monoclonal antibodies showed that of the 150 rotavirus positive specimens, 17 percent belonged to subgroup I, 59 per cent belonged to subgroup II, and 24 percent were neither subgroup I nor subgroup II. The specimens were typed, as serotype 1 (43 percent), serotype 2 (5 percent), serotype 3 (11 percent), serotype 4 (10 percent) or mixed serotypes (3 percent). The remaining 41 (27 percent) specimens were untypeable. None of the serotypes showed association with a particular age group. An electrophoretic analysis of viral RNA revealed 11 distinct patterns (six long and five short). The majority, 78 percent were long patterns and 22 percent were short patterns. Analysis of the specimens for which subgroups, serotypes and electropherotypes were available indicated that a given RNA pattern does not correspond to a particular subgroup or serotype.

Epidemiology of diarrhoea in two major cities in Saudi Arabia.

The epidemiological pattern of diarrhoeal diseases, causative agents and risk factors of their occurrence in two referral hospitals of Saudi Arabia is presented in this study. Stool specimens from 1726 admitted diarrhoeal cases were examined for parasites, yeast, enteropathogenic bacteria and rotavirus using the ELISA test. 41.3% of cases were due to rotavirus (RVGE) while 53.1% of cases showed no causative pathogens. Mean age of all cases was 20.2 months and RVGE cases showed a steady rise from the neonatal period onward, reaching a peak between 6-14 months. Males accounted for higher percentage of all diarrhoeal cases. Mothers of diarrhoea cases were mostly housewives with low educational level. Bottle fed children showed higher proportion (53.1%) of diarrhoea than other types of feeding suggesting the faeco-oral route of infection and the effect of poor sanitation. A pattern of higher RVGE cases was seen in warmer months in Al-taif and in cooler months in Jeddah. Findings demonstrated the interaction between host, pathogen and environmental factors in the epidemiology of infectious diarrhoeas in developing countries and the areas of possible prevention.

PIP: The epidemiological pattern of diarrheal diseases, causative agents, and risk factors of their occurrence in two referral hospitals of Saudi Arabia is presented in this study. Stool specimens from 1726 admitted diarrheal cases were examined for parasites, yeast, enteropathogenic bacteria, and rotavirus using the ELISA test. 41.3% of cases were due to rotavirus, while 53.1% of cases showed no causative pathogens. Mean age of all cases was 20.2 months and rotavirus gastroenteritis (RVGE) cases showed a steady rise from the neonatal period onward, reaching a peak between 6 and 14 months. Males accounted for a higher percentage of all diarrheal cases. Mothers of diarrheal cases were mostly housewives with low educational status. Bottle-fed children showed higher proportions (53.1%) of diarrhea than children fed otherwise, suggesting the feco-oral route of infection and the effect of poor sanitation. A pattern of higher RVGE cases was seen in warmer months in Al-taif and in cooler months in Jeddah. Findings demonstrated the interaction between host, pathogen, and environmental factors in the epidemiology of infectious diarrheas in developing countries and the areas of possible prevention.

Cell cycle kinetics analysis of HeLa cells exposed to aphidicolin: computer simulation.

A computer simulation model was developed and used to analyze the inhibitory effect of aphidicolin on the proliferation of Hela cells. Simulation results were compared with actual experimental results [Pedrali-Noy et al. (1980) Nuc. Acid Res. 8, 377] and were found to be in good agreement. Also, the simulation showed that aphidicolin caused cells to be accumulated at the G1/S boundary and that recruitment and synchrony occurred.