Changing pattern of prevalence, genetic diversity, and mixed infections of viruses associated with acute gastroenteritis in pediatric patients in New Delhi, India

Abstract

There are very few studies that have assessed multiple viral agents causing Acute-Gastroenteritis (AGE) in India. The present study compared the changing pattern of prevalence and genetic diversity of five enteric viruses associated with acute-diarrhea in Delhi children within a gap of 5 years. Fecal samples were collected from diarrheal children (<4 years) during two winter seasons: year 2009-2010 (n = 59) and year 2014-2015 (n = 85). Samples were individually tested for rotavirus-A, norovirus, astrovirus, adenovirus, and sapovirus using EIA/RT-PCR and genetically characterized by phylogenetic analysis. Rotavirus was the most predominant (54.9%) virus followed by norovirus (25.7%), astrovirus (8.3%), and adenovirus (4.9%) with rare detection of sapovirus (0.7%). While detection rate increased for both rotavirus (49.2-58.8%) and astrovirus (5.1-10.6%), norovirus detection rate decreased (30.5-22.4%) from 2009 to 2015. During the same time period, adenovirus detection remained low (4.7-5.1%). Interestingly, mixed infections increased from 8.5% to 16.5% after 5 years. G1P[8] rotavirus strain was found most predominant (40%). Both type-1 and 8 astroviruses were detected. Single sapovirus detected was of genotype GII.1. Both GI (GI.5, GI.3) and GII (GII.1, GII.4, GII.7, GII.21, GII.13) genogroups of norovirus were detected. Of particular significance was the first detection of other NoV genotypes (besides GII.4 and GI.3) in Delhi. This is also the first report of NoV GI.5 from India. A change in prevalence pattern and increased diversity from 2009 to 2015 emphasizes the need for continued enteric virus surveillance to help measure the impact of new diarrhea vaccine(s) introduced in India.

Molecular Epidemiology and Clinical Features of Rotavirus Infection Among Pediatric Patients in East Java, Indonesia During 2015–2018: Dynamic Changes in Rotavirus Genotypes From Equine-Like G3 to Typical Human G1/G3

“…There were significantly high rates of infection among children younger than 2 years old, especially those between 6 and 11 months old. These findings are well in agreement with those of previous studies (Subekti et al, 2002; Sowmyanarayanan et al, 2012; Gupta et al, 2018). The lower prevalence in older children could be due to acquired immunity through previous exposures (Velazquez, 2009).…”

“…Strain diversity occurs over time along with temporal and genetic changes in the viruses (Gupta et al, 2018). The accumulation of knowledge about the features of viral strains may provide insight into what impact the introduction of rotavirus vaccination has on virus epidemiology and circulating genotypes.…”

Novel Human Astroviruses: Prevalence and Association with Common Enteric Viruses in Undiagnosed Gastroenteritis Cases in Spain

“…While most epidemiological studies on enteric viruses in children identified rotavirus as the first viral cause of acute sporadic gastroenteritis [24,25,26,27,28], we found a higher positivity rate for adenovirus, which could be biased on the fact that positive samples for rotavirus and adenovirus by immunochromatography were excluded from the analyses. Yet, two other recent studies also identified higher prevalence of adenovirus than rotavirus infection among a cohort of children with gastroenteritis using real-time PCR assays [29,30], including one study that focused on the post rotavirus vaccine era [30].…”

Molecular Characterization of Norovirus Strains Isolated from Older Children and Adults in Impoverished Communities of Vhembe District, South Africa

“…Therefore, combined characterization of both capsid and polymerase regions is substantial to monitor the new recombinant strains and the new emerging NoV genotype worldwide. GII.1 capsid genotype found in this study has been recently reported in Cameroon [ 48 ], Brazil [ 49 , 50 ], Australia [ 51 ], India [ 52 ], and elsewhere [ 53 – 55 ]. This genotype is frequently reported from both clinical cases and environmental samples.…”

“…(iii) GII.1 capsid genotype found in this study has been recently reported in Cameroon [48], Brazil [49,50], Australia [51], India [52], and elsewhere [53][54][55]. is genotype is frequently reported from both clinical cases and environmental samples.…”