Molecular characterization of group A rotavirus found in elderly patients in Ireland; predominance of G1P[8], continued presence of G9P[8], and emergence of G2P[4].

Rotavirus is a major cause of gastroenteritis in young children worldwide. There have been several recent reports concerning rotavirus isolation from adults, particularly in the elderly, presenting with gastroenteritis. In this study, the authors report on rotavirus outbreaks in five separate elderly care facilities between April, and June 2011 in Ireland. The following genotypes were detected; G1P[8] (n = 5/11), G2P[4] (n = 2/11), and G9P[8] (n = 2/11). Thus, similarities to previous reports were found in that G1P[8] predominated, G9P[8] was still detected but G2P[4] was detected for the first time in a geriatric population in Ireland. Here also described is the detection of Group 2 lineage IIC rotavirus in Ireland for the first time.

Detection of human bocaviruses 1, 2 and 3 in Irish children presenting with gastroenteritis.

Human bocavirus has been increasingly detected worldwide in patients suffering from gastroenteritis, with the highest incidence reported in children aged between 6 and 24 months. A total of 155 non-bacterial gastroenteritis samples consisting of rotavirus-, adenovirus- and norovirus-positive specimens were collected from patients in the Munster region of Ireland from 2006-2008. Of these 155, a total of 12 were positive for the presence of human bocavirus. Three types of human bocavirus were identified: HBoV1, 2 and 3. In addition, recombinant strains (n=4) were also isolated. This is the first report of all three types of HBoV being detected in southern Ireland.

Molecular characterization of group A rotaviruses detected in children with gastroenteritis in Ireland in 2006-2009.

Community and hospital-acquired cases of human rotavirus are responsible for millions of gastroenteritis cases in children worldwide, chiefly in developing countries, and vaccines are now available. During surveillance activity for human rotavirus infections in Ireland, between 2006 and 2009, a total of 420 rotavirus strains were collected and analysed. Upon either PCR genotyping and sequence analysis, a variety of VP7 (G1-G4 and G9) and VP4 (P[4], P[6], P[8] and P[9]) genotypes were detected. Strains G1P[8] were found to be predominant throughout the period 2006-2008, with slight fluctuations seen in the very limited samples available in 2008-2009. Upon either PCR genotyping and sequence analysis of selected strains, the G1, G3 and G9 viruses were found to contain E1 (Wa-like) NSP4 and I1 VP6 genotypes, while the analysed G2 strains possessed E2 NSP4 and I2 VP6 genotypes, a genetic make-up which is highly conserved in the major human rotavirus genogroups Wa- and Kun-like, respectively. Upon sequence analysis of the most common VP4 genotype, P[8], at least two distinct lineages were identified, both unrelated to P[8] Irish rotaviruses circulating in previous years, and more closely related to recent European humans rotaviruses. Moreover, sequence analysis of the VP7 of G1 rotaviruses revealed the onset of a G1 variant, previously unseen in the Irish population.

Changing profile of the bovine rotavirus G6 population in the south of Ireland from 2002 to 2009.

Bovine group A rotavirus is one of the main causes of neonatal diarrhoea in calves. This study examined the different G and P genotypes circulating in the bovine population, from 2002-2009, in the south of Ireland. Rotavirus positive bovine faecal samples (n=332) were collected from the Cork Regional Veterinary Laboratory, between 2002 and 2009 and subjected to RNA extraction, PAGE analysis, and G and P genotyping. Genotyping analysis identified G6, G10, P[5], and P[11] to be the predominant G and P genotypes in the present study, with G6 rotavirus responsible for 70-80% of rotavirus infections. The highest combination of G and P types found was G6 P[5], followed by G6 P[5+11] mixed infection. The prevalence of G6 and G10 has shifted over the years, with an increase in the amount of G10 P[11] being detected. Novel combinations (G6+G10P[11], G6+G10P[5+11] and G10P[5+11]) were also detected for the first time. In addition to this, sequence analysis of the VP7 RT-PCR amplicons has revealed that Irish G6 strains are falling within three different lineages, III-V. During this study, two samples, initially genotyped as G8P[11] were identified through sequence analysis as being true G6, lineage III with a high nucleotide identity to Hun4, a G6 human sample from Hungary. The increase in novel G and P type combinations, as well as changes seen in G6 samples could have an impact on rotavirus vaccination programmes, as the current vaccine available may not offer protection against all of these circulating types.

Prevalence and characterization of enteric adenoviruses in the South of Ireland.

Enteric adenoviruses have been shown to be a substantial cause of pediatric gastroenteritis in various parts of the world, and are considered to be the second most common cause of viral gastroenteritis, next to rotavirus in young children. Genetic characterization of 95 adenovirus isolates obtained from patients with acute gastroenteritis between 2002 and 2007 from the southern regions of Ireland, were characterized by PCR analysis, restriction endonuclease (RE) analysis and sequencing analysis. All isolates were found to be of adenovirus type 41 origin. Genetic analysis of seven hypervariable regions (HVRs) located within the hexon gene has revealed a high level of amino acid sequence homology in samples over the course of this study, with a very close relationship to the D22 genome type. The D22 genome type has been detected in several other countries, thus suggesting Irish isolates have common genome types with other stains worldwide. This is the first such study undertaken in the south of Ireland, to type and genetically characterize adenoviral gastroenteritis isolates, and has revealed a high level of conservation within the isolated analyzed.