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Published on: July 22, 2012
Rotavirus G and P types in children with acute diarrhea in Cairo, Egypt, 2011-2012
Ashraf R S Shoeib1, Jennifer J Hull, Baoming Jiang
1aEnvironmental Virology Laboratory, Department of Water Pollution Research, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt bGastroenteritis and Respiratory Viruses Laboratory Branch, Division of Viral Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 'CDC', Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Insights
Rotavirus infection affects nearly 40% of children in Cairo, predominantly those under one year old. Surveillance of circulating rotavirus genotypes is crucial for vaccine development in Egypt.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Pediatrics
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Rotavirus caused an estimated 3.9% of deaths in children under 5 in Egypt in 2004.
- Previous studies indicated a significant burden of rotavirus-related mortality in young Egyptian children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the epidemiology of rotavirus infections in Cairo.
- To identify the circulating rotavirus genotypes in Cairo between 2011 and 2012.
Main Methods:
- Collected 197 stool samples from inpatient and outpatient children in Cairo.
- Screened samples for rotavirus using enzyme immunoassay.
- Determined G and P genotypes using RT-PCR and sequence analysis.
Main Results:
- Rotavirus was detected in 39.1% of children, higher in inpatients (43.9%) than outpatients (29.9%).
- Infections peaked in winter, with 85.7% of cases occurring in infants under one year old.
- Predominant genotypes were G3P[8] (37.7%) and G1P[8] (19.5%), with uncommon types also identified.
Conclusions:
- Genotype distribution has shifted compared to previous studies.
- High rotavirus burden in Egyptian children under two underscores the need for ongoing surveillance.
- Recommends developing and introducing a rotavirus vaccine in Egypt.
Background:
The WHO estimated the annual rotavirus-related mortality among children below 5 years old in Egypt in 2004 to be 30 deaths per 100 000, or out of an estimated 2616 deaths, 3.9% were because of rotavirus infection. The aim of this article was to study the epidemiology and circulating genotypes of rotaviruses in Cairo from 2011 to 2012.
Materials And Methods:
A total of 197 stool samples were collected from 130 inpatient children at the Cairo University Children Hospital and 67 outpatient children at the Al-Saff Children Clinic. The collected stool samples were then screened for rotavirus using enzyme immunoassay, followed by a screening for G-type and P-type using RT-PCR, and confirmation by sequence analysis.
Results:
Rotavirus was detected in 39.1% (77/197) of the children, with a higher rate in inpatients (43.9%, 57/130) than in outpatients (29.9%, 20/67). There was an increase of rotavirus infection in the winter season. The majority of rotavirus cases (85.7%) occurred during the first year of life. The predominant genotypes identified during this study were G3P[8] (37.7%) and G1P[8] (19.5%), but uncommon genotypes G1P[6] (3.9%), G9P[6] (1.3%), G8P[14] (1.3%), and G12P[6] (2.6%) were also detected.
Conclusion And Recommendations:
The change in genotype distribution, compared with previous studies, along with the high burden of rotavirus-associated diarrhea among Egyptian children below 2 years old, emphasizes the importance of continuing strain surveillance and the need of developing and introducing rotavirus vaccine in Egypt.
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