Abstract
IntroductionRotavirus is the leading cause of severe diarrhoea among infants and young children. Each year more than 611 000 children die from rotavirus gastroenteritis, and two million are hospitalized, worldwide. In Kenya, the impact of recent rotavirus vaccinations on morbidities has not been estimated. The study aimed at determining the prevalence and identity of rotavirus strains isolated from rotavirus-associated diarrhoea in vaccinated children presenting with acute gastroenteritis.MethodsTwo hundred and ninety eight specimen from children presented at Gertrude Childrens’ Hospital from January to June 2012 were tested by EIA (Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay) for rotavirus antigens. Molecular characterization was conducted on rotavirus-positive specimens. Extracted viral RNA was separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and the specific rotavirus VP4 (P-types) and VP7 (G-types) determined.ResultsThe prevalence rate of rotavirus was 31.5% (94/298). Of the rotavirus dsRNA, 57 (60.1%) gave visible RNA profiles, 38 (40.4%) assigned long electropherotypes while 19 (20.2%) were short electropherotypes. The strains among the vaccinated were G3P [4], G12P [6], G3P [6], G9P [4], G mixed G9/3P [4] and G1/3P [4]. Specifically, the G genotypes were G9/3 (5.3%), G9 (4.3%), G3 (4.3%), G12 (2.1%) and mixed G1/3 (1.1%). The P genotypes detected were P [4] (5.3%) and P [6] (5.3%).ConclusionThe present study demonstrates diversity in circulating genotypes with emergence of genotypes G3, G9, G12 and mixed genotypes G9/3 and recommends that vaccines should be formulated with a broad range of strains to include G9 and G12.
Highlights
Rotavirus is the leading cause of severe diarrhoea among infants and young children
It is estimated that 27% of all under five diarrheal disease hospitalization in Kenya is caused by rotavirus infection [2]
A total of 94 EIA rotavirus-positive stool samples were subjected to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and visible dsRNA migration patterns were obtained in 57 (60.1%) samples
Summary
Rotavirus is the leading cause of severe diarrhoea among infants and young children. Each year more than 611 000 children die from rotavirus gastroenteritis, and two million are hospitalized, worldwide. The study aimed at determining the prevalence and identity of rotavirus strains isolated from rotavirus-associated diarrhoea in vaccinated children presenting with acute gastroenteritis. It is estimated that 27% of all under five diarrheal disease hospitalization in Kenya is caused by rotavirus infection [2]. In Kenya, 68 deaths, 132 hospitalizations, and 21,800 clinic visits per 100,000 children aged less than 5 years annually are attributable to rotavirus diarrhoea [11]. Human rotavirus vaccine has been shown to reduce hospitalizations as a result of gastroenteritis from any cause by up to 42% [22]. The present study was aimed at estimating prevalence of rotavirus gastroenteritis and the genetic diversity of rotavirus among the vaccinated children at the Gertrude’s Children Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya
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