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Assays for the Specific Growth Rate and Cell-binding Ability of Rotavirus
Published on: January 28, 2019
[Surveillance finding on rotavirus in Changchun children's hospital during July 1998-June 2001]
Li-wei Sun1, Zhi-li Tong, Li-hong Li
1Changchun Children's Hospital, Changchun 130061, China.
Insights
Rotavirus is a major cause of severe diarrhea in young children in Changchun. Surveillance identified common strains like P[8]G1, indicating a need for rotavirus vaccines to prevent illness and reduce costs.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Context:
- Rotavirus is a leading cause of severe diarrheal disease globally in infants and young children.
- Understanding local rotavirus epidemiology is crucial for vaccine implementation and public health strategies.
- Changchun city, China, lacked pre-vaccination rotavirus surveillance data.
Purpose:
- To establish baseline rotavirus diarrhea patterns in Changchun prior to vaccine introduction.
- To describe the epidemiologic features and circulating strains of rotavirus in young children.
- To inform public health policy regarding rotavirus prevention.
Summary:
- Hospital-based surveillance identified rotavirus in 31.0% of outpatients and 52.9% of inpatients with acute diarrhea among children under 5.
- Rotavirus caused 58.6% of inpatient diarrhea during the peak season (November-March), primarily affecting children under 2 years.
- The predominant serotype was G1 (82.4%), with P[8] and P[4] being the most common P genotypes. Nine P-G combinations were identified, with P[8]G1, P[4]G2, P[8]G3, and P[8]G4 accounting for 75.6%.
Impact:
- Rotavirus is confirmed as a significant cause of severe childhood diarrhea in Changchun.
- The identified diversity of rotavirus strains, including novel types, highlights the complexity of circulating strains in China.
- The findings underscore the necessity of developing and implementing rotavirus vaccines to prevent severe disease and reduce healthcare costs.
Objective:
To establish baseline patterns of rotavirus diarrhea and to describe its epidemiologic features in Changchun city, prior to rotavirus vaccine immunization.
Methods:
Hospital-based surveillance was conducted among children under 5 years old with acute diarrhea in Changchun Children's Hospital. Fecal samples were determined to identify rotavirus by PAGE and/or ELISA. G serotypes of rotavirus were identified by ELISA and/or nested RT-PCR. P genotyping were carried out by RT-PCR. All data were computerized and analysed by "Generic Manual on Rotavirus Surveillance" set by CDC in the USA.
Results:
In total, 2 343 diarrhea cases were screened and 1 211 fecal samples were collected. Rotavirus was detected in 31.0% among outpatients and 52.9% in inpatients. During the peak of the season (November through March), 58.6% of diarrhea was caused by rotavirus among inpatients. 95.0% of rotavirus diarrhea cases occurred among children aged < 2 years. The predominant strain was serotype G1 (82.4%), followed by G2 (5.0%), G3 (3.3%), G4 (0.9%). P genotyping showed that P[8] and P[4] were the most common ones. Nine different P-G combinations were identified, four strains (P[8]G1, P[4]G2, P[8]G3, and P[8]G4) commonly seen worldwide accounted for 75.6% of the total. Taken together with uncommon strains, including the novel types P[4]G4 and P[8]G2, it highlights the extraordinary diversity of rotaviruses circulating in China.
Conclusion:
Rotavirus is the major cause of severe child diarrhea in Changchun. Developing a rotavirus vaccine for prevention of severe disease and reduction of treatment costs seemed to be necessary.
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