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Genetic Diversity of Enteric Viruses in Children under Five Years Old in Gabon
Gédéon Prince Manouana1,2, Paul Alvyn Nguema-Moure1, Mirabeau Mbong Ngwese1
1Institute of Tropical Medicine, Universitätsklinikum Tübingen, 72074 Tübingen, Germany.
Insights
This study identified enteric viruses in Gabonese children, finding norovirus and astrovirus common in diarrhea cases. Understanding viral diversity is key for prevention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
Background:
- Enteric viruses are a primary cause of childhood diarrhea worldwide.
- Understanding the genetic diversity of these viruses is crucial for developing effective prevention and control measures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the detection rates of four enteric viruses (norovirus, astrovirus, sapovirus, aichivirus A) in Gabonese children under five.
- To analyze the genetic diversity of these detected enteric viruses within the study population.
Main Methods:
- Stool samples were collected from symptomatic (n=177) and asymptomatic (n=67) children in Gabon.
- Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was used for viral detection, followed by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis.
Main Results:
- At least one virus was detected in 23.2% of symptomatic and 14.9% of asymptomatic children.
- Norovirus and astrovirus were most prevalent in symptomatic children. Norovirus and Aichivirus A were predominant in asymptomatic children.
- High genetic diversity was observed for astrovirus (5 genotypes) and sapovirus (4 genotypes). Norovirus GII.P31-GII.4 Sydney was common. Aichivirus A genotypes A and C were identified.
Conclusions:
- This research provides novel insights into the circulation patterns and genetic diversity of key enteric viruses among young children in Gabon.
- Findings highlight the need for continued surveillance and genetic characterization to inform public health interventions against childhood diarrhea.
Abstract:
Enteric viruses are the leading cause of diarrhea in children globally. Identifying viral agents and understanding their genetic diversity could help to develop effective preventive measures. This study aimed to determine the detection rate and genetic diversity of four enteric viruses in Gabonese children aged below five years. Stool samples from children <5 years with (n = 177) and without (n = 67) diarrhea were collected from April 2018 to November 2019. Norovirus, astrovirus, sapovirus, and aichivirus A were identified using PCR techniques followed by sequencing and phylogenetic analyses. At least one viral agent was identified in 23.2% and 14.9% of the symptomatic and asymptomatic participants, respectively. Norovirus (14.7%) and astrovirus (7.3%) were the most prevalent in children with diarrhea, whereas in the healthy group norovirus (9%) followed by the first reported aichivirus A in Gabon (6%) were predominant. The predominant norovirus genogroup was GII, consisting mostly of genotype GII.P31-GII.4 Sydney. Phylogenetic analysis of the 3CD region of the aichivirus A genome revealed the presence of two genotypes (A and C) in the study cohort. Astrovirus and sapovirus showed a high diversity, with five different astrovirus genotypes and four sapovirus genotypes, respectively. Our findings give new insights into the circulation and genetic diversity of enteric viruses in Gabonese children.
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