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Detection and Genogrouping of Noroviruses from Children's Stools By Taqman One-step RT-PCR
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Published on: July 22, 2012

Rotavirus hospitalization and molecular epidemiology in northern Japan, 1987-1996

Toyoko Nakagomi1, Bok-Ryun Chang, Osamu Nakagomi

  • 1Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, and the Global Center of Excellence, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan.

Vaccine
|November 26, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Rotavirus hospitalizations in Japanese children are substantial, with G1P[8] being the dominant strain. Economic analysis could speed up the introduction of rotavirus vaccines in Japan.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Vaccinology

Background:

  • Rotavirus is a leading cause of severe gastroenteritis in young children globally.
  • The anticipated introduction of rotavirus vaccines in Japan necessitates understanding local disease burden and prevalent strains.
  • Long-term epidemiological data on rotavirus hospitalizations in Japan is crucial for vaccine impact assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine long-term trends in rotavirus hospitalizations among children under 5 years old in Akita, Japan.
  • To characterize the genotypes of rotavirus strains circulating in the region between 1987 and 1996.
  • To provide data supporting the economic evaluation and expedited introduction of rotavirus vaccines in Japan.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of hospitalization data for acute gastroenteritis in children under 5 years old.
  • Detection of rotavirus in stool samples from hospitalized children.
  • Genotyping of rotavirus strains to identify common serotypes (G and P types).

Main Results:

  • A total of 974 children were hospitalized for rotavirus gastroenteritis between 1987 and 1996.
  • The unadjusted incidence rate of rotavirus hospitalizations was 14.9 per 1000 child-years.
  • G1P[8] was the predominant genotype (75% on average over 9 seasons), with a notable G2P[4] outbreak (87% in one season). A unique G8P[4] strain was also identified.

Conclusions:

  • Rotavirus imposes a significant hospitalization burden on young children in Japan.
  • Understanding rotavirus epidemiology and strain diversity is essential for effective vaccination strategies.
  • Economic analyses are recommended to facilitate the timely introduction of rotavirus vaccines in Japan.

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