Epidemiological studies on rotavirus associated with diarrhoea among calves and children in Kaduna state, Nigeria

Abstract

INTRODUCTION Rotaviruses are enteric pathogens causing acute, watery, dehydrating diarrhoea in various host species, including birds and mammals. Rotavirus is the cause for approximately 500,000 child deaths yearly, mainly in developing countries (Rajendran and Kang, 2014). The virus is the single most important cause of infectious, severe, dehydrating diarrhoea and death worldwide in children less than 5 years (Pennap and Umoh, 2010). Rotavirus gastroenteritis is a mild to severe disease, with incubation period of abo days. The symptoms often starts with fever, nausea, and vomiting, followed by abdominal cramps and frequent watery diarrhea, which may last for 3-8 days. Infected children may also have a cough and runny nose. al., 2011) Bovine rotaviruses are important causative agents of neonatal calf diarrhoea throughout the world, and rotavirus infection is a significant cause of economic loss in the cattle ABSTRACT Rotaviruses are enteric pathogens causing acute, watery, dehydrating diarrhoea in various host species, including birds and mammals. A total of 716 diarrhoeic stool samples were collected comprising of 249 from calves and 467 from children within Kaduna State Nigeria. Rotavirus antigen was detected in the stools of calves by NSP3 Real-Time Reverse Transcription detected in children using Enzyme Linked Immunosobent Assay (ELISA). Rotavirus was detected in 34 of the 249 stool sample from calves (13.7%). The infection was higher in males (15.7%:16/102) compared to females calves (12.3%: 11/147). The highest number of cases was detected among calves 2 the result showed no significant difference between rotavirus infection in calves with mode of feeding and presence of other animals in the farm (p>0.05). There was significant difference between rotavirus infection and sanitation on farm and source of water for calves (p<0.05). An overall RV prevalence of 31.0% (143/467) was obtained in children. The infection was higher in females (32.1%:79/246) compared to males (29.9%:66/221). The highest burden was detected in children 25 (36.4%:22/77). There was no significant association between boiling of drinking water, attendance of day care and playing with toys prevalence of rotavirus (P> important cause of acute diarrhoea among calves and children in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Hence the need for improvement in sanitation and the implemention of the vaccines into the childhood immunization programme.