[Antigenic variants of the respiratory syncytial virus in Argentina and Uruguay].

The characterization of RSV antigenic variants was carried out on 160 nasopharyngeal aspirates from children under 5 years of age, from Argentina and Uruguay, with acute respiratory infection and a previously positive etiological diagnosis for RSV. Results for Argentina were: 20.9% of samples belonged to subtype A, 76.9% to subtype B and the remaining 2.2% to new subtypes as yet uncharacterized. Results for Uruguay were: 5.6% of samples belonged to subtype A, 81% to subtype B and 13.5% to other subtypes. Subtype B was predominant in both countries. The correlation of RSV antigenic variants with the clinical picture and epidemiological profile is currently underway.