Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 20, 2026
Determining Soil-transmitted Helminth Infection Status and Physical Fitness of School-aged Children
Published on: August 22, 2012
Viral diarrhoea in young children in two districts in Nigeria
R Audu1, S A Omilabu, I Peenze
1Nigeria Institute for Medical Research, Lagos State, Nigeria.
Insights
Rotavirus was the most common viral cause of diarrhoea in Nigerian children, followed by astrovirus. Understanding these viral prevalence and strains is crucial for developing effective vaccines.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
Background:
- Diarrhoea remains a significant health challenge in young children globally.
- Viral gastroenteritis contributes substantially to childhood morbidity and mortality, particularly in developing countries.
- Limited data exists on the specific viral aetiologies of diarrhoea in Nigeria.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of common viral pathogens causing diarrhoea in children under five in Ilorin and Lagos, Nigeria.
- To characterize the circulating rotavirus strains, including G and P genotypes.
- To provide data that can inform public health interventions and vaccine strategies.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 108 children under five with clinically confirmed diarrhoea.
- Samples were collected from children attending the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital and Massey Street Children's Hospital.
- Viral agents were detected, and rotavirus strains were further characterized using PAGE and RT-PCR for G and P typing.
Main Results:
- Rotavirus was the most prevalent viral agent, identified in 33.3% of cases.
- Adenovirus and astrovirus were detected at lower rates (6.7% and 1.2%, respectively).
- Among rotavirus strains, G1 was the most common single G serotype, and P[6] was the most prevalent P genotype. A high rate of mixed G and P infections was observed.
Conclusions:
- Rotavirus is the leading viral cause of diarrhoea in young children in the studied Nigerian populations.
- The diversity of rotavirus strains and high rate of mixed infections highlight the complexity of viral gastroenteritis in this region.
- Findings underscore the importance of continued surveillance and the need for broadly protective rotavirus vaccines.
Objectives:
To determine the prevalence of viral agents of diarrhoea in Ilorin and Lagos, two zones in Nigeria.
Design:
A survey of young children who had clinically confirmed diarrhoea.
Setting:
University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital in Ilorin, Kware State and the Massey Street Children's Hospital in Lagos State, Nigeria.
Subjects:
108 children under the age of five.
Results:
The prevalence rates observed were 33.3% for rotavirus, 6.7% for adenovirus and 1.2% for astrovirus. The rotavirus strains were characterized further. PAGE determined the presence of seven patterns of RNA electropherotypes, with one short RN patterns and six long patterns. The G and P types of selected rotavirus positive samples were characterized by RT-PCR techniques. The VP7 G typing showed that GI was the most prevalent single strain found (8.3%), while G3 and G4 accounted for 6.7% and 1.7%. The rate of mixed G serotypes was 26.7%. The P[6] genotype was the most prevalent (52%) and the P[4] had a prevalence of 8%. The mixed P genotype accounted for 28% of the rotavirus strains. The high rate of mixed infection may have an implication on vaccine development.
Conclusion:
Rotavirus was the most prevalent virus in the study with astrovirus being the second most prevalent. There was only a single incidence of astrovirus.
Related Concept Videos
01:17Poliomyelitis
01:18Yellow Fever