Characterization of human rotavirus subgroups and serotypes in children under five with acute gastroenteritis in a Saudi Hospital

Abstract

Objectives:Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe diarrhea in children. Currently, there is no published data on the prevalence of subgroups and serotypes of rotavirus in the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia. The objectives of the present study were to assess the rotavirus infection in children with acute gastroenteritis and to assess the subgroups and serotypes of rotavirus in the Children and Maternity Hospital in Dammam, Eastern Saudi Arabia.Materials and Methods:Children under 5 years of age with gastroenteritis attending the emergency rooms, or hospitalized in the pediatric wards of in the Children and Maternity Hospital in Dammam were included in the study (N=156). Laboratory diagnosis of rotavirus shedding was established using the novel rotavirus STAT-PAK immunochromatographical test. Subgroup and G-serotype of the positive stool specimens were analyzed by the ELISA method.Results and Conclusions:Using the novel immmunochromatographic assay, 37 samples were shown to be positive for rotavirus (23.7%). Subgroup I (serotype 2) was found to constitute 5.4% of the isolates and subgroup II (serotypes 1, 3 and 4) was found to constitute 56.7% of the isolates, whereas 37.8% were non-typeable. A survey of serotypes of rotavirus in the whole region as well as in the whole of Saudi Arabia will provide important information about the subgroups and groups of rotavirus in the community and may help in assessing the success of the rotavirus vaccine in the future.

Molecular Characterization of Rotavirus Strains Causing Gastroenteritis in Children under 5 Years in Cairo, Egypt

“…A total of 198 diarrheal specimens were tested by ELISA for rotavirus antigen and 56 (28.3%) were positive. This finding is within the range (11-76.9%) previously detected in Egypt [22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29] and in other countries .3%), including the Middle East and North Africa [30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40]. The variation in prevalence rates may be attributed to different conditions which may have affected the detection rates.…”

“…For example, in other studies there were differences in the number of tested samples, season of sample collection, and the sampling methods. The occurrence of the group A Rotavirus was higher in the first 12 months of life (36%) than in the other age groups, as was observed in previous studies in developing countries [22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41]. This finding may be explained by decline of maternal antibodies with immature immune systems which protect the newborns from pathogens during the first months of life [42].…”

Rotavirus gastroenteritis among hospitalized children under 5 years of age in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: a review

“…Among hospitalized children with acute diarrhoea, the proportion of RV gastroenteritis have fallen in Morocco from 741 (40%) to 89 (26.6%) between 2006 and 2011 (27,29), and in Saudi Arabia from 660 (65.5%) to 171 (31.6%) between 2008 and 2012 (30,32). The proportion of RV gastroenteritis appears to have increased over time in Islamic Republic of Iran from 131 (19%) to 10 (25%) between (36) and Yemen (37), reported seasonality distribution ( Table 2).…”

The Clinical Burden of Rotavirus Gastroenteritis: A Prospective Study

“…Accurate projections of the benefits of the vaccine program in the years following its introduction in Saudi Arabia will require reliable, current data on the disease burden. Over the past 30 years, more than 20 studies have been published in an attempt to characterize the epidemiology of RV diarrhea in Saudi Arabia [ 5 - 11 ], however, only three studies were conducted in the last decade [ 8 - 10 ] which emphasizes the need for up-to-date and comprehensive studies. Furthermore, only one prospective study has been published in children younger than five years [ 10 ], and none of the previously published studies addressed the financial burden of RV infections.…”

“…Over the past 30 years, more than 20 studies have been published in an attempt to characterize the epidemiology of RV diarrhea in Saudi Arabia [ 5 - 11 ], however, only three studies were conducted in the last decade [ 8 - 10 ] which emphasizes the need for up-to-date and comprehensive studies. Furthermore, only one prospective study has been published in children younger than five years [ 10 ], and none of the previously published studies addressed the financial burden of RV infections. Because of significant variations in study design, methodologies, study durations, population characteristics, and other factors, heterogeneity exists in detection rates and seasonality for RV infection in Saudi Arabia.…”