Detection of rotavirus from hospitalized diarrheic children in uttar pradesh, India

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Pediatric Infectious Diseases
• Molecular Epidemiology

Background:

• Rotavirus is a leading cause of severe diarrheal disease in young children globally.
• Understanding the circulating strains and their characteristics is crucial for effective prevention and control strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To screen diarrheal stool samples from children in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand for rotavirus.
• To characterize the identified rotavirus strains using molecular methods.
• To assess the prevalence and demographic distribution of rotavirus infections in the study population.

Main Methods:

• Screening of 220 stool samples using RNA Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (PAGE).
• Molecular characterization of rotavirus isolates, including VP4 gene amplification via Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR).
• Virus isolation and propagation in MA104 cell lines.

Main Results:

• 46 out of 220 samples (20.9%) tested positive for rotavirus.
• All detected rotaviruses belonged to Group A, exhibiting a 4-2-3-2 migration pattern on PAGE.
• Both long and short electropherotypes were observed, with six distinct patterns identified.
• Male children (22.96%) showed a higher susceptibility to rotavirus infection compared to female children (17.64%).
• RT-PCR confirmed Group A rotavirus with a specific VP4 gene product (876 bp).

Conclusions:

• Group A rotavirus is a significant cause of diarrhea in children in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
• The study identified diverse rotavirus electropherotypes circulating in the region.
• Male gender appears to be a risk factor for rotavirus infection in this pediatric population.