Host-Range shift between emerging P[8]-4 Rotavirus and Common P[8] and P[4] Strains: Host-range shift of P[8] rotaviruses

International audienceIn Tunisia, we observed that rotavirus P[8]-3 and P[4] in young children with gastroenteritis associate with the secretor histo-blood-group phenotype. Inversely, the emerging P[8]-4, representing 10% of cases, was exclusively found among nonsecretor patients. Unlike VP8* from P[8]-3 and P[4] strains, the P[8]-4 VP8* protein attached to glycans from saliva samples regardless of the donors Secretor status. Interestingly, a high frequency of FUT2 enzyme deficiency (nonsecretor phenotype) was observed in the population. This may allow co-circulation of P[8]-3 and P[8]-4 strains in secretor and nonsecretor children, respectively