Emergence and characterization of human Rotavirus G9 strains in Tunisia

Among human rotaviruses, G9 has emerged as the fifth most important genotype circulating globally. Ongoing surveillance of rotavirus in Tunisia during the past 10 years identified the first G9 strains in 2004. These strains exhibited the P[8] VP4 genotype and had a long RNA electrophoretype. The G9 strains were characterized by phylogenetic analysis of the VP7 gene sequence and showed high identity with other human rotavirus G9 strains belonging to the rotavirus VP7 lineage group III. © 2009 by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved.