Rotavirus is one the most common causes of diarrhea both in humans and different animal species. It was carried out a transversal study with 144 diarrheic fecal samples of piglets, from 16 commercial swine-producing units distributed among 10 municipalities of São Paulo State, Brazil, aiming at the detection of rotavirus occurrence and its molecular characterization according to G and P genotypes. A total of 43 samples (29.86%) were positive for rotavirus by Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (PAGE) and ELISA, in a parallel screening scheme. The nested-multiplex RT-PCR characterization revealed that, separately, the P[6] genotype was the most frequent, detected in 25.58% of the samples, followed by P[1] (11.63%) and P[7] (9.3%). Concomitant infection of the genotypes P[6]+P[7] (9.3%), P[1]+P[6] (4.65%), P[1]+P[6]+P[7] (2.33%) were also found. Similarly, the G[5] genotype was detected on 30.23% of the samples, followed by G[10] (20.93%), G[6] (4.65%) and G[5]+G[10] (18.6%). The genotype G[5]P[6] was the most frequent (11.63%), but other combinations and untypeable samples were also observed. Considering the diversity porcine rotavirus found in the surveyed population, specific prophylactic measures should take in charge, for its effectiveness, the cross-protection degree between the genotypes present on vaccine formulations and those that really circulates on a region.
Rotavirus; diarrhea; genotypes; porcine; Brazil
