Leera KittigulApinya PanjangampatthanaKitwadee RuppromKannika PombubpaMahidol University2018-11-092018-11-092014-01-24International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Vol.11, No.2 (2014), 1299-131116604601166178272-s2.0-84893621066https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/33911Rotavirus is a common cause of acute diarrhea in young children worldwide. This study investigated the prevalence and molecular characterization of rotavirus in environmental water and oyster samples in Thailand. A total of 114 water samples and 110 oyster samples were collected and tested for group A rotavirus using RT-nested PCR. Rotavirus genotype was identified by phylogenetic analysis of the VP7 genetic sequences. Group A rotavirus was detected in 21 water samples (18.4%) and six oyster samples (5.4%). Twenty five rotavirus strains were successfully sequenced and classified into four genotypes; G1, G2, G3, and G9. Rotavirus G1 (three strains), G2 (three strains), and G9 (two strains) demonstrated the genetic sequences similar to human strains (90%-99% nucleotide identity), whereas G3 (17 strains) was closely related to animal strains (84%-98% nucleotide identity). G1 strains belonged to lineages I (sub-lineage c) and II. G2 strains belonged to lineage II. G9 strains belonged to lineages III (sub-lineage b) and IV. G3 strains belonged to lineages I, III (sub-lineage c), and IV with a predominance of lineage I. The present study provides important information on the rotavirus strains circulating in the environment. © 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Mahidol UniversityEnvironmental ScienceMedicineArticleSCOPUS10.3390/ijerph110201299