Diarrhoea caused by rotavirus in a regional Peruvian hospital: determination of circulating genotypes.

P W Espejo,H C Pacheres,L J Del Valle,J Ruiz,F O Peralta,J Del Valle Mendoza,A C Tapia,J B Mayra

doi:10.1093/trstmh/tru059

Abstract

Gastroenteritis caused by rotavirus is responsible for approximately 810 deaths per year in children under 5 years of age in Peru and emerging rotavirus genotypes have led to concerns regarding cross-protection by the vaccines available. Moreover, there are no reports on the molecular epidemiology of rotavirus diarrhoea in Peru. A total of 131 stool samples were obtained from children under 5 years hospitalised from January 2010 to December 2012 in the Hospital Regional de Cajamarca (Peru). ELISA and RT-PCR techniques were performed for rotavirus detection. G and P typing of rotavirus-positive samples were performed by semi-nested multiplex RT-PCR, and sequencing was performed to confirm the PCR results. Of the 117 samples available, 22 (18.8%) tested positive for rotavirus by ELISA and 42 (35.9%) tested positive by RT-PCR. Among the G genotypes identified, G9 (35.7%; 15/42) and G12 (33.3%; 14/42) were the most prevalent, with the most common combination being G12/P[6] (23.8%; 10/42). A high prevalence of the G12/P[6] genotype was detected. It is known that this genotype is not covered by the current vaccines available. More in-depth studies are needed to determine the current rotavirus genotypes presents in Peru.

Highlights

Rotavirus is the most important cause of severe gastroenteritis accompanied by acute diarrhea in young children worldwide[1]
In this study we assessed the prevalence of rotavirus infection and genotypes using enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) amplification of viral nucleic acid derived from stool specimens of children under 5 years old from the Regional Hospital of Cajamarca in Peru
MATERIAL AND METHODS Study population and collection of specimens A total of 131 stool samples were obtained from children under 5 years old hospitalized with acute gastroenteritis from January 2010 to December 2012 in the Hospital Regional de Cajamarca, Peru

Summary

Introduction

Rotavirus is the most important cause of severe gastroenteritis accompanied by acute diarrhea in young children worldwide[1]. In Peru, human rotaviruses are responsible for approximately 810 annual deaths in children under 5 years old[2]. In the last few years Argentina, Chile and Brazil have reported new genotypes that have apparently spread in Latin America Knowledge of their distribution, including detection of emerging genotypes, is crucial for rotavirus vaccination programs[8,9,10]. In this study we assessed the prevalence of rotavirus infection and genotypes using ELISA and PCR amplification of viral nucleic acid derived from stool specimens of children under 5 years old from the Regional Hospital of Cajamarca in Peru. Gastroenteritis by rotavirus is responsible for approximately 810 annual deaths/year in children under 5 years in Peru and emerging rotavirus genotypes have led to concerns regarding cross-protection by the vaccines available. More in depth studies are needed to know the current rotavirus genotypes presents in Peru

Methods

Results

Conclusion