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[The molecular epidemiology of the rotavirus in Spanish children. The Rotavirus Study Group (GER)]
1Hospital Severo Ochoa, Madrid.
Insights
Rotavirus gastroenteritis is common in children. This study found G1 serotype rotavirus was most frequent, with RT-PCR proving more effective than EIA-Mabs for identifying non-serotypable cases.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Vaccine Development
Context:
- Rotavirus is a leading cause of acute gastroenteritis in children worldwide.
- Understanding circulating rotavirus strains is crucial for developing effective vaccines.
- This study prospectively analyzed rotavirus strains from young children with acute gastroenteritis.
Purpose:
- To identify the prevalent G and P genotypes of rotavirus in children with acute gastroenteritis.
- To compare the efficacy of Enzyme Immunoassay-Monoclonal Antibody (EIA-Mabs) and Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) for rotavirus typing.
- To inform future rotavirus vaccine strategies.
Summary:
- A one-year prospective study in Madrid and Barcelona identified rotavirus in 322 children (45%) with acute gastroenteritis.
- G1 serotype was the most common (207 cases), followed by G4 (70 cases) and G3 (6 cases).
- Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) demonstrated higher efficiency in genotyping compared to EIA-Mabs, successfully identifying all non-serotypable strains, predominantly G1 and G4. All identified P genotypes belonged to the P[8] type.
Impact:
- The findings highlight the predominance of G1 serotype rotavirus, a key consideration for vaccine efficacy.
- RT-PCR is confirmed as a more sensitive method for comprehensive rotavirus strain identification.
- Continuous monitoring of rotavirus serotypes and genotypes is essential for evaluating and updating vaccine effectiveness.
Background:
Rotavirus are the most common etiologic agent of acute gastroenteritis in childhood. The knowledge of the circulating antigenic types is important in development of future vacunes.
Methods:
Faeces from children (age < 4 years) with acute gastroenteritis admitted in the two hospitals (Hospital Severo Ochoa-Madrid and Hospital General Vic-Barcelona) have been studied prospectively during one year (October-1996 to October-1997). The detection of rotavirus was performed by ELISA (IDEIA, Dako). All samples were G-serotyping by EIA-Mabs (Silenius Laboratories) and the indeterminate or non-serotypable samples were G-genotyping by RT-PCR. P genotypes were identified by RT-PCR.
Results:
322 (45%) patients with acute diarrhoea causing for rotavirus were confirmed, 242 coming from the Madrid metropolitan area and other 80 from the Barcelona area. The EIA-Mabs technique made it possible to identify the G serotypes in 287 cases (89%), corresponding 207 to G1 serotype, 70 to G4 serotype and 6 to G3 serotype. In 4 patients both G1 and G4 serotypes were detected. The EIA-Mabs could not determined the serotype in 35 (11%) patients, all of whom were confirmed by RT-PCR (12 belonged to serotype G1 and 23 to serotype G4). Analysis of P genotypes was carried out in 25 patients obtained from Madrid and 17 from Barcelona; all cases were classified in the P[8] genotype.
Conclusions:
The most frequent serotype in both hospitals was G1. The EIA-Mabs technique were showed a high sensitivity, however, the RT-PCR technique used were even more efficient, making it possible for us to identify all the non-serotypable EIA-Mabs cases. The temporal study of circulating serotypes/genotypes of rotavirus is necessary to evaluate the efficiency of vaccines.