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Detection and Genogrouping of Noroviruses from Children's Stools By Taqman One-step RT-PCR
Published on: July 22, 2012
Rotavirus and Norovirus Infections in Children Under 5 Years Old with Acute Gastroenteritis in Southwestern China,
Longyu Yang1, Shulan Shi2, Chen Na3
1Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development On Severe Infectious Disease, Department of Immunogenetics, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, 650118, Yunnan, People's Republic of China.
Insights
Rotavirus and norovirus are significant causes of acute gastroenteritis in children in Southwestern China. Incidence rates were high, with notable seasonal patterns and a reduction observed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Pediatrics
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Rotaviruses and noroviruses are leading causes of acute gastroenteritis in children globally.
- Previous research in China primarily focused on rotavirus, leaving a gap in understanding norovirus epidemiology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the incidence of both rotavirus and norovirus in pediatric acute gastroenteritis cases in Southwestern China.
- To analyze epidemiological and environmental factors associated with these viral infections.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective evaluation of acute gastroenteritis cases in children under five from January 2018 to December 2020.
- Detection of rotavirus and norovirus using laboratory methods, including dual testing for mixed infections.
Main Results:
- Rotavirus detection rate was 24.5% and norovirus was 26.1%. Mixed infections occurred in 5.0% of dual-tested cases.
- Rotavirus was more common in outpatients (26.6%) than hospitalized children (13.6%). Both viruses peaked in children aged 12-18 months.
- Rotavirus peaked December-March, norovirus October-December. Viral detection correlated with temperature and decreased in early 2020.
Conclusions:
- Rotavirus and norovirus remain critical viral pathogens causing pediatric acute gastroenteritis in Southwestern China.
- Understanding their distinct epidemiological patterns is crucial for public health interventions.
Objective:
Rotaviruses and noroviruses are important causes of acute gastroenteritis in children. While previous studies in China have mainly focused on rotavirus, we investigated the incidence of norovirus in addition to rotavirus in Southwestern China.
Methods:
From January 2018 to December 2020, cases of rotavirus or norovirus infections among children under five ages with acute gastroenteritis were evaluated retrospectively.
Results:
The detection rate of rotavirus was 24.5% (27,237/111,070) and norovirus was 26.1% (4649/17,797). Among 17,113 cases submitted for dual testing of both rotavirus and norovirus, mixed rotavirus/norovirus infections were detected in 5.0% (859/17,113) of cases. While there was no difference in norovirus incidence in outpatient compared to hospitalized cases, rotavirus was detected two times more in outpatients compared to hospitalized cases (26.6% vs.13.6%; P < 0.001). Both rotavirus and norovirus infections peaked in children aged 12-18 months seeking medical care with acute gastroenteritis (35.6% rotavirus cases; 8439/23,728 and 32.5% norovirus cases; 1660/5107). Rotavirus infections were frequent between December and March of each year while norovirus was detected earlier from October to December. Our results showed significant correlation between virus detection and environmental factors such as average monthly temperature but not relative humidity. In addition, we observed a reduction in the detection rates of rotavirus and norovirus at the beginning of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in 2020.
Conclusion:
Our results indicate that rotavirus and norovirus are still important viral agents in pediatric acute gastroenteritis in Southwestern China.
