Serotyping of human rotaviruses in the Tokyo area (1990-1993) by enzyme immunoassay with monoclonal antibodies and by reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction amplification.

Serotyping of human rotavirus in the Tokyo area was conducted from 1990 to 1993 by enzyme immunoassay with monoclonal antibodies (EIA-MAbs) against VP7 and by reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) amplification of the VP4 and VP7 genes. The results by EIA-MAbs were very similar to those obtained by RT-PCR. Evidence of intraserotypic variations was suggested because strains of undetermined serotypes were detected by either EIA-MAb or RT-PCR. This kind of study is required for vaccine development.