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Published on: July 22, 2012
Detection and characterization of group C rotavirus in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1997-2003
Alejandro A Castello1, Marcelo H Argüelles, Rosana P Rota
1Division of Viral Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, US Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. acastello@unq.edu.ar
Insights
Group C rotavirus (RVC) is a significant cause of diarrhea in children, with a 3% incidence observed in Argentina. RVC infections were noted in older children compared to group A rotavirus (RVA).
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Group C rotavirus (RVC) role in pediatric diarrhea remains less understood compared to group A rotavirus (RVA).
- Accurate detection methods are crucial for understanding RVC epidemiology and impact.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of group C rotaviruses (RVC) as a cause of diarrhea in children.
- To evaluate diagnostic methods for RVC detection.
- To analyze the genetic conservation of RVC VP7 gene.
Main Methods:
- Screening of 1,579 fecal samples from children using in-house ELISA for RVA and RVC.
- Further characterization of RVC-positive samples using CDC-ELISA, electron microscopy, RT-PCR, nested PCR, and Southern hybridization.
- Determination of diagnostic test sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values.
- VP7 gene sequencing of Argentinean RVC strains and comparison with global sequences.
Main Results:
- RVC was detected in 3% of pediatric diarrhea cases, with no significant seasonal variation.
- RVC-infected patients were significantly older (median 6 years) than RVA-infected patients (median 1 year).
- Nested PCR and CDC-ELISA showed comparable sensitivity (82.5%), with molecular methods being slightly more specific.
- High nucleotide sequence identity (94.4-99.9%) was observed among human RVC VP7 genes globally over 17 years.
Conclusions:
- Group C rotavirus is a significant contributor to pediatric diarrhea in the studied population.
- Diagnostic performance varied, with molecular methods showing slightly better specificity.
- The high conservation of the RVC VP7 gene suggests a stable circulating strain globally.
- Development of simple and sensitive serological detection methods for RVC is warranted.
Abstract:
The role of group C rotaviruses as a cause of diarrhea was examined among children <17 years of age admitted to a Hospital in a suburban area of Buenos Aires, Argentina between 1997 and 2003. A total of 1,579 fecal samples were screened for group A (RVA) and C (RVC) rotaviruses by two in-house ELISA methods at Quilmes University (UNQ-ELISA). Samples positive, doubtful and negative by RVC specific UNQ-ELISA (n = 246) were examined further for RVC by another in-house ELISA (CDC-ELISA), electron microscopy, RT-PCR, nested PCR, and Southern hybridization. Sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values for each test were determined. While the sensitivity was comparable for the nested PCR and CDC-ELISA methods (82.5%), the molecular methods were slightly more specific. Poorly preserved particles were often seen in fecal samples, suggesting that degradation of RNA could be a factor influencing the performance of molecular methods. The incidence of RVC was estimated to be 3% without apparent differences among seasons. RVC infected patients had a significantly (P < 0.001) higher median age (6 years vs. 1 year) than those with RVA infection. Sequence of the RVC VP7 gene from six Argentinean strains and sequences reported previously in different countries showed high nucleotide (94.4-99.9%) sequence identities, indicating a high degree of conservation for human RVC VP7 genes among strains collected on five continents over a period of 17 years. These findings indicate that RVC is a significant cause of diarrhea and it is necessary to develop simple and sensitive serological methods for its detection.
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