05). We analyzed these findings with respect to the meteorological data obtained for both years. The mean values obtained for relative humidity and temperature were significantly lower in 2012 (45.9% ± 21.7%, 17.8 °C ± 4.7 °C) than in 2010 (52.9% ± 21.6%, 19.4 °C ± 4.1 °C) (P = 0.004/0.0073) (Indian Meteorological

Department, Government of India, Pune). Our data indicated a deviation of rotavirus infections toward lower humidity and temperature as described previously in eastern India [12]. G1P[8], G2P[4], G3P[8], G4P[8] and G9P[8] are the most common rotavirus strains circulating worldwide. Throughout the study period, G1P[8] rotavirus strains showed highest prevalence, except in the year 2009 where G9P[8] was the predominant strain. Although G2P[4] has been described as the second most predominant Crizotinib research buy strain in other regions of India [4] and [13], we found learn more variation in its prevalence in comparison

with other commonly detected rotavirus strain, G9P[8]. An earlier study from Pune identified the G3P[8] strain once in the year 2005 [3] and was detected only once in this study. Other studies have documented the absence of this strain and the G4P[8] strain indicating that they are uncommon in India. Earlier rotavirus strain surveillance marked the circulation of unusual combinations of G and P types (G1P[4], G1P[6], G2P[6], G2P[8], G2P[10], G4P[4], G9P[4], G9P[6], G10P[6], G10P[8])

[3] and [4]. As against this, the present study detected only a limited number of such G-P combinations (G1P[4], G2P[6], G2P[8], G4P[4] and G9P[4]) with a notable contribution of G9P[4] strains. The year 2009 witnessed the highest diversity in circulating rotavirus strains in comparison with the years 2010–2012. Interestingly, the percentage of mixed infections was also highest (27.1%) in 2009 and found to decline to 0% in 2012. Thus, the proportion of mixed infections of rotavirus may correlate with the extent of diversity in rotavirus strains. In the same year, G9P[8] strains which are considered the fifth most common strains, displaced G1P[8] strains known to be predominant unless globally. Subsequent to this, the prevalence of G9P[8] strains declined after attaining the highest score in the year 2010. This was followed by a marked increase in the circulation of rare G9P[4] strains. It is possible that the occurrence of these strains could be a result of reassortment between G9P[8] and G2P[4] strains. Generation of such a reassortment has been proposed previously [14] and [15]. It is hypothesized that unusual combinations of G and P types are unfit for survival and hence do not stabilize in the environment [16]. In view of this, the continuous increase in the number of G9P[4] strains vis-a-vis a decrease in G9P[8] strains identified in the present study needs to be monitored further.