Temporal variation of Malaysian rotavirus electropherotypes

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Public Health
• Molecular Epidemiology

Background:

• Rotavirus is a leading cause of severe diarrheal disease in children globally.
• Understanding rotavirus electropherotypes is crucial for surveillance and vaccine effectiveness studies.
• Previous studies have documented rotavirus diversity, but long-term electropherotype analysis in Malaysia is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the diversity and temporal patterns of rotavirus electropherotypes circulating in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
• To identify predominant electropherotypes and assess genome variability over a seven-year period.
• To investigate potential shifts in electropherotype prevalence.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 360 rotavirus electropherotypes collected over seven years in Kuala Lumpur.
• Classification of electropherotypes based on their migration patterns (long and short).
• Assessment of annual and sequential electropherotype prevalence and genome variability.

Main Results:

• Over 99% of the 360 analyzed electropherotypes belonged to group A rotaviruses.
• The long electropherotype was consistently predominant annually, with a rarity of short electropherotypes.
• Extensive genome variability and cocirculation of different electropherotypes were observed annually.
• A sequential appearance of the predominant electropherotype occurred yearly, except in 1985 and 1988.
• No shift in the predominant electropherotype was detected over a six-year period.

Conclusions:

• Group A rotaviruses with a predominant long electropherotype were consistently found in Kuala Lumpur over the study period.
• Significant genome variability and cocirculation of diverse electropherotypes highlight the dynamic nature of rotavirus strains.
• The lack of a predominant electropherotype shift suggests a stable circulation pattern of rotavirus in this region during the study years.