Abstract
BackgroundRotavirus infection is the most common cause of severe gastroenteritis in children under five years of age in both developed and developing countries. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends the surveillance of rotavirus strains prior to vaccine introduction in all applicable countries. The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiological characteristics as well as to determine the circulating genotypes of rotaviruses in Côte d’Ivoire prior to vaccine introduction.MethodsThe study included children under five years of age who met the inclusion criteria after informed consent had been sort from their parents or guardians. Rotavirus VP6 antigens were detected for each stool sample using Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA). Genotyping of positive EIA samples was performed by reverse-transcriptase-PCR (RT-PCR) assays.ResultsA total of 684 children were recruited. Children aged between 6 and 11 months were the most represented with 34%. Rotavirus VP6 antigens were found in 27.1% (186/684) of samples tested. Commonly detected G genotypes included G12 (46.6% (82/176) and G1 (13.1% (23/176) whilst P[8] (49.8% (91/183) was the most predominant P genotype. Rotavirus G12P[8] was the most predominant strain circulating in Côte d’Ivoire within the period of study and constituted 26.6% of all strains detected.ConclusionThe monitoring of circulating strains will help guide decision-makers in the choice of vaccine. Genotypic variability of circulating rotavirus strains over the years implies there is a need for continuous rotavirus strain surveillance even after vaccine introduction.
Highlights
Rotavirus infection is the most common cause of severe gastroenteritis in children under five years of age in both developed and developing countries
The rotavirus, a non-enveloped wheel-like virus with 11 double stranded RNA segments, is responsible for acute gastroenteritis characterized by the sudden onset of watery diarrhoea, fever and vomiting [1]
A recent World Health Organisation (WHO) surveillance report noted the predominance of uncommon strains including G12P[8], G12P[6]; G2P[6], G3P[6], G1P[6]; G1P[4], G2P[8]; and G9P[4] circulating in South East Asia; sub-Saharan Africa; West Pacific and the Americas respectively [11]
Summary
Rotavirus infection is the most common cause of severe gastroenteritis in children under five years of age in both developed and developing countries. Group A rotaviruses are the single most common cause of severe gastroenteritis and consequent dehydration in young children both in the developing and industrialized countries [2]. Rotavirus outer VP7 and VP4 capsid genes provide the basis for a dual classification system Molecular typing of these genes have provided vast epidemiological information on the diversity of rotavirus strains in circulation globally [8]. A recent WHO surveillance report noted the predominance of uncommon strains including G12P[8], G12P[6]; G2P[6], G3P[6], G1P[6]; G1P[4], G2P[8]; and G9P[4] circulating in South East Asia; sub-Saharan Africa; West Pacific and the Americas respectively [11]
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