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Published on: January 28, 2019
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Australian Rotavirus Surveillance Program: Annual Report, 2020.
Susie Roczo-Farkas1, Sarah Thomas1, Celeste M Donato2,3,4
1Research Assistant, Enteric Diseases Group, Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI).
Communicable Diseases Intelligence (2018)
|November 30, 2021
Summary
In 2020, rotavirus surveillance in Australia detected G3P[8] as the dominant wildtype strain. The study also noted a significant increase in vaccine-like rotavirus strains, impacting interpretation of results in infants.
Area of Science:
- Virology and Epidemiology
- Public Health Surveillance
Background:
- Rotavirus remains a significant cause of gastroenteritis in children globally.
- Understanding circulating rotavirus genotypes is crucial for vaccine effectiveness monitoring and public health strategies.
- The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic impacted healthcare access and sample collection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the circulating rotavirus G and P genotypes in Australia from January 1 to December 31, 2020.
- To analyze the proportion of wildtype and vaccine-like rotavirus strains.
- To assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on rotavirus surveillance activities.
Main Methods:
- Collection and analysis of 229 faecal specimens for rotavirus G- and P- genotype determination.
- Identification of rotavirus strains using molecular methods (sequence reads).
- Classification of strains as wildtype, vaccine-like, or undetermined.
Main Results:
- Of 189 rotavirus-positive samples, 98 were wildtype and 86 were vaccine-like.
- The dominant wildtype genotype was G3P[8] (27.6%), followed by G2P[4] (20.4%).
- Forty-six percent of all rotavirus-positive samples were vaccine-like, necessitating caution in interpreting results in infants aged 0-8 months.
Conclusions:
- Rotavirus surveillance in 2020 was significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to reduced sample collection and potential biases.
- The high prevalence of vaccine-like strains underscores the importance of careful interpretation of rotavirus diagnostic results, especially in young children.
- Continued rotavirus surveillance is essential for tracking genotypic shifts and ensuring diagnostic accuracy.
