Surveillance for rotavirus in Argentina

Abstract

Group A rotaviruses are the major cause of severe gastroenteritis in young children worldwide. Because rotavirus vaccination appeared imminent, a nationwide surveillance program was organized between October 1996 and October 1998 in the largest Argentine cities. Surveillance for disease burden, rotavirus detection, and rotavirus typing was undertaken at nine locations. Results showed rotavirus to be associated with 42% of diarrhea admissions. Although the prevalent G types changed from year to year, common G types were found in 96% of the cases and were usually associated with common P types. Uncommon G types, G9 and G5, were found at low prevalence and uncommon G/P combinations occurred at almost every study site. These data suggest that a rotavirus vaccine could substantially decrease the rotavirus disease burden in Argentina, but that introduction of a vaccine should be accompanied by a concurrent surveillance system.

Prevalence and Molecular Genotyping of Group A Rotaviruses in Iranian Children

“…Many studies have shown that rotavirus is an important cause of diarrhoea in children in developed and developing countries [13]. Most cases occur in children less than 5 years of age.…”

Serological and molecular diversity of human rotavirus in São Paulo, Brazil

“…Surveys around the globe indicates that G1P [8], G2P [4], G3P [8] and G4P [8] are the most common G and P types combinations (24,38,40). However, recently, genotypes G5, G8, G9, G11 and G12, and/or new combinations of G and P were identified in Latin America and in other parts of the world (10,38,41).…”

“…A total of 20 (38.5%) samples were characterized as G genotype mixtures and P mixtures were found in 16 (29.6%) samples. P [4] was found in 55.6% of samples, P[8] in 51.9% and P[6-M37 like] in 22.3% of cases. P[6-Gottfried like] and P[11] were detected only in mixtures.…”

Molecular epidemiology of human P[8],G9 rotaviruses in Hungary between 1998 and 2001

“…Some of these may only have local significance (e.g. G5 in parts of Brazil and G8 in Malawi; Bok et al, 2001b;Cunliffe et al, 2001b), but at least one serotype, G9, was demonstrated to have dispersed worldwide (Ramachandran et al, 1996;Unicomb et al, 1999;Griffin et al, 2000;Iturriza-Gó mara et al, 2000;Palombo et al, 2000;Araú jo et al, 2001;Bok et al, 2001a;Cunliffe et al, 2001a;Bányai et al, 2004).…”