Caracterización de tipos antigenícos de rotavirus circulantes en Mendoza, Argentina en base a tipificación de la proteina de la capside externa VP7. / [Characterization of antigenic types of circulating rotaviruses in Mendoza, Argentina based on typing of the external VP7 capsid protein]

ABSTRACT

Rotavirus is one of the most common etiologic agents of acute diarrhea in childhood. Understanding the immunologic mechanisms involved in rotavirus diseases, including knowledge on seasonal and geographic antigenic variations may be crucial for vaccine development. A monoclonal antibody based ELISA specific for antigenic domains on the outer capsid protein VP7 has been developed and used widely in the past years. We studied the rotavirus VP7-serotype epidemiology causing diarrhea in children who consulted at two main hospitals of Mendoza, Argentina over a 20 month period. A total of 227 cases of diarrhea were identified, 45 of which (20