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Assays for the Specific Growth Rate and Cell-binding Ability of Rotavirus
10:49

Assays for the Specific Growth Rate and Cell-binding Ability of Rotavirus

Published on: January 28, 2019

Peak rotavirus activity shifted from winter to early spring in Japan

Hiroshi Suzuki1, Takatsugu Sakai, Naohito Tanabe

  • 1Division of Public Health, Department of Infectious Disease Control and International Medicine, Niigata University, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata City, Niigata, Japan. hsuzuki@med.niigata-u.ac.jp

The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal
|March 8, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Rotavirus activity in Japan has shifted from winter to early spring. This study tracked peak rotavirus infection seasons from 1983 to 2003, confirming a significant temporal trend.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Epidemiology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Acute gastroenteritis in children has been studied in Japan since 1910.
  • Historically, diseases like pseudocholera infantum peaked in November/December.
  • Previous research identified rotaviruses as causative agents with peaks in January/February (1974-1981).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To confirm a temporal shift in peak rotavirus activity in Japan.
  • To analyze trends in rotavirus seasonality over a 21-year period.

Main Methods:

  • Surveillance of rotavirus-positive children aged 0-3 years diagnosed with infantile vomiting and diarrhea (1983-2003).
  • Fecal sample analysis using electron microscopy and/or latex agglutination kits.
  • Determination of the peak month of rotavirus activity across 21 seasons.

Main Results:

  • Peak rotavirus activity showed a gradual shift from January to March over the study period.
  • The duration of the rotavirus season significantly increased across three 7-season periods (P=0.0026).
  • A statistically significant time series shift in peak rotavirus infection was observed (P=0.0003).

Conclusions:

  • The study confirms a gradual temporal shift in peak rotavirus activity in Japan.
  • This shift is from winter months towards early spring.
  • The underlying reasons for this observed seasonal shift remain unknown.
Abstract

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