Comparison of Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay and Immunochromatography for Rotavirus Detection in Children Below Five Years with Acute Gastroenteritis.

Abstract

Group-A rotaviruses are responsible for 30 to 60% of severe watery diarrhea cases in young children. Timely diagnosis of rotavirus infection helps to determine appropriate treatment and prevents unnecessary use of antibiotics. To compare Immunochromatography (ICG) with standard ELISA test for diagnosis of and to determine incidence, clinical socio-epidemiological profile and possible risk factors associated with rotavirus infection in children below five years with acute gastroenteritis. A prospective study performed from February 2013 to April 2014 in Microbiology and Paediatrics Departments, Government Medical College, Amritsar, Punjab, India. Hundred stool samples from children below five years diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis were taken and tested by ICG and standard ELISA test. Performed using the SPSS software for Windows, version 17.0. P-values calculated using χ(2) test for categorical variables. A p < 0.05 was considered significant. Maximum cases with ICG showed a sensitivity of 95.24% and specificity of 97.47% when compared to ELISA. Incidence of rotavirus diarrhea was 21% using ELISA and 23% using ICG. With ELISA rotavirus infection was highest in age group 6 months to 24 months (83.3%) and in male (90.47%). The infection was maximum during November to April and presented with triad of diarrhea, vomiting, fever (76.2%). Majority of cases had watery diarrhea in high percentage (90.47%). Severe dehydration (76.19%), respiratory symptoms (38.09%), bottle feeding (52.38%), malnourished children (47.61%), children playing with toys (47.6%) and submersible water pump (61.95%) as a source of drinking water associated with rotavirus infection were found to statistically significant. ICG shows a good agreement with ELISA and has the advantage of being a quicker, cost-effective and useful for testing single specimen, convenient, not requiring additional equipment, readily available, simple to perform and easy-to-read results.