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Epidemiology of rotavirus infection in children in Blantyre, Malawi, 1997-2007

Nigel A Cunliffe1, Bagrey M Ngwira, Winifred Dove

  • 1University of Liverpool, United Kingdom. n.a.cunliffe@liv.ac.uk

The Journal of Infectious Diseases
|August 6, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Rotavirus gastroenteritis significantly impacts African infants. This study identified diverse rotavirus strains in Malawi, highlighting the need for broad-spectrum vaccines to combat this common childhood illness.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Virology

Background:

  • Acute gastroenteritis caused by rotavirus is a major health concern for young children in Africa.
  • Rotavirus infection contributes significantly to child morbidity and mortality across the continent.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize rotavirus strains circulating in Malawi from 1997-2007.
  • To assess the prevalence and seasonality of rotavirus infections in hospitalized children.

Main Methods:

  • Enzyme immunoassay (EIA) was used to detect Group A rotavirus in fecal samples.
  • Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) characterized rotavirus VP7 (G) and VP4 (P) types.
  • Data was collected from 3740 children under five with acute gastroenteritis.

Main Results:

  • Rotavirus was detected in one-third of the studied children, with a median age of 7.8 months.
  • Rotavirus circulated year-round, peaking during the dry season (May-October).
  • Fifteen rotavirus strain types were identified, with P[8]G1, P[6]G8, P[4]G8, P[6]G1, P[8]G3, and P[6]G9 accounting for 83% of strains. Serotype G12 was newly detected.

Conclusions:

  • A wide diversity of rotavirus strains circulates in Malawi, influenced by zoonotic transmission and viral reassortment.
  • Current rotavirus vaccines show promise for reducing disease burden but must cover a broad range of serotypes.
  • Vaccination strategies need to consider the year-round exposure and young population demographics in Malawi.

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