Viral diarrhoea in young children in two districts in Nigeria.

Abstract

To determine the prevalence of viral agents of diarrhoea in Ilorin and Lagos, two zones in Nigeria. A survey of young children who had clinically confirmed diarrhoea. University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital in Ilorin, Kware State and the Massey Street Children's Hospital in Lagos State, Nigeria. 108 children under the age of five. The prevalence rates observed were 33.3% for rotavirus, 6.7% for adenovirus and 1.2% for astrovirus. The rotavirus strains were characterized further. PAGE determined the presence of seven patterns of RNA electropherotypes, with one short RN patterns and six long patterns. The G and P types of selected rotavirus positive samples were characterized by RT-PCR techniques. The VP7 G typing showed that GI was the most prevalent single strain found (8.3%), while G3 and G4 accounted for 6.7% and 1.7%. The rate of mixed G serotypes was 26.7%. The P[6] genotype was the most prevalent (52%) and the P[4] had a prevalence of 8%. The mixed P genotype accounted for 28% of the rotavirus strains. The high rate of mixed infection may have an implication on vaccine development. Rotavirus was the most prevalent virus in the study with astrovirus being the second most prevalent. There was only a single incidence of astrovirus.