The molecular epidemiology of circulating rotaviruses: three-year surveillance in the region of Monastir, Tunisia

Abstract

BackgroundRotavirus infection is the most common cause of severe, dehydrating, gastroenteritis among children worldwide. In developing countries, approximately 1440 children die from rotavirus infections each day, with an estimated 527,000 annually. In infants, rotavirus is estimated to cause more than 2 million hospitalizations every year depending on the income level of the country.The purpose of this study was to estimate the proportion of rotavirus gastroenteritis and identify the distribution of circulating G and P genotype rotavirus strains among children consulting several dispensaries in the region of Monastir (outpatients departments) or admitted to Monastir University Hospital (inpatients department) with acute gastroenteritis.MethodsThis study was undertaken during a 3-year period from April 2007 to April 2010 in Tunisian children under 13 suffering from acute gastroenteritis. Group A rotaviruses were detected in stools by ELISA and genotyped using multiplex reverse transcription PCRs with type-specific primers on the basis of their outer capsid proteins. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS software, version 19.ResultsOf the 435 stool samples from children with acute gastroenteritis, 27.6% were positive for rotavirus A. The predominant G type was G1 (37.5%), followed by G3 (25%), G2 (17.5%), G4 (12.5%), G9 (2.5%) and three mixed-G infections G3G4 (2.5%) were identified.Only P[8] (80.8%), P[4] (16.7%) and P[9] (0.8%) genotypes were found. The predominant single G/P combination was G1P[8] (37.5%), followed by G3P[8] (25%), G2P[4] (16.7%), G4P[8] (12.5%), G9P[8] (1.7%) and one case of the unusual combination G9P[9] (0.8%). The G-mixed types G3G4 combined with P[8] (2.5%). Infants less than 3 months of age were most frequently affected. The prevalence of rotavirus infection peaked in the winter season, when temperatures were low, and decreased in summer.ConclusionsRotavirus gastroenteritis is a common disease associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and economic burden. Epidemiological knowledge of rotavirus is critical for the development of effective preventive measures, including vaccines.These data will help to make informed decisions as to whether rotavirus vaccine should be considered for inclusion in Tunisia's National Immunisation Programme.

Epidemiology and genetic diversity of group A rotavirus in acute diarrhea patients in pre‐vaccination era in southwest China

“…The summation of those G1, G2, G3, and G9 genotypes accounted for 94.8% in all G genotype in this study, this result was also similar to the other study conclusion, where the total of G1, G2, G3, and G9 accounted over 85% in all RVA strains in China [Li et al, ]. P[8] genotype accounted for 92.8% in all RVA strains in this study, and summation of P[8] and P[6] genotype reached 95% of all P genotype, this conclusion kept with the result of other study conducted in China, which suggested that P[8] was persistent predominant genotype from 1980 to now [Liu et al, ], similar conclusion was that P[8] (80.8%) was characterized as predominant P genotype from 2007 to 2010 in Tunisia [Hassine‐Zaafrane et al, ].…”

Distribution of G (VP7) and P (VP4) genotypes of group A bovine rotaviruses from Tunisian calves with diarrhoea

“…This distribution was different from the seasonality of human rotaviruses, which peaked in winter (Hassine‐Zaafrane et al . ). A study conducted in Japan on healthy calves showed that the highest detection rate of rotavirus genes was in January followed by December (Abe et al .…”

“…The viral RNA was extracted as previously described (Hassine‐Zaafrane et al . ) and then was analysed using one‐step RT‐PCR kit (QIAGEN, Hilden, Germany) and primers amplifying partial VP6 gene (Iturriza‐Gomara et al . ).…”

Aetiology, epidemiology and clinical characteristics of acute moderate-to-severe diarrhoea in children under 5 years of age hospitalized in a referral paediatric hospital in Rabat, Morocco

“…Rotavirus infections were essentially recovered during the coldest months, as described elsewhere (Benhafid et al 2013), even in the same geographical area (Hassine-Zaafrane et al, 2011). Rotavirus was the most frequent virus involved in the development of cases of diarrhoea, and ranking as the specific second cause of diarrhoea after EAEC isolates.…”

“…Although some data on the aetiological causes of diarrhoea in some North African countries are available (Al-Gallas et al, 2007;Hassine-Zaafrane et al, 2011SdiriLoulizi et al, 2009SdiriLoulizi et al, , 2011, little is known about the aetiology and epidemiology of diarrhoea in Morocco. The latest estimates suggest that diarrhoea may be responsible for the death of 36 per 1000 live births annually in Morocco (UNICEF/WHO, 2009).…”