Abstract:
Five cytopathic rotavirus strains were isolated in MA 104 cells from stool specimens of kids with diarrhoea.
Pre-treatment of the virus with trypsin and incorporation of low levels of trypsin in the maintenance
medium were important for the successful cultivation of the strains in these cells. The isolates
were shown to be group A rotaviruses by antigenic reactivity with a group A monoclonal antibody.
This was confirmed by the migration patterns of the viral RNA genome during polyacrylamide gel
electrophoresis, which also confirmed that all five strains had an identical RNA electropherotype.
Analysis with monoclonal antibodies to the subgroup-specific VP6 antigen showed that these strains
carried the subgroup I epitope.
