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Concomitant rotavirus serotypes 1 and 4 infections in a diarrhoeic child from Belém, Brazil
J D Mascarenhas1, R H Gusmão, Y B Gabbay
1Serviço de Virologia Geral, Instituto Evandro Changas, Belém, Pará, Brasil.
Insights
Dual rotavirus infection with serotypes 1 and 4 was identified in a child with severe diarrhea. This highlights the need for multivalent rotavirus vaccines to combat co-circulating serotypes in areas with poor sanitation.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Virology
- Public Health
Background:
- Community-acquired diarrhea is a significant health concern in infants.
- Rotavirus is a leading cause of severe diarrheal disease in children globally.
- Understanding rotavirus serotypes and co-infections is crucial for vaccine development.
Observation:
- A 15-month-old female child presented with a 7-day history of community-acquired diarrhea and moderate dehydration.
- Diagnostic testing revealed a concomitant infection with rotavirus serotypes 1 and 4.
Findings:
- Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) confirmed positive reactions for both rotavirus serotypes 1 and 4.
- Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) of viral RNA showed extra-migrating bands, indicative of a dual infection.
- These findings provide laboratory evidence for a co-infection with two distinct rotavirus serotypes.
Implications:
- The high exposure rate of children in poor sanitation settings to rotavirus infections is underscored.
- The co-circulation of multiple rotavirus serotypes supports the necessity of multivalent vaccines.
- A multivalent rotavirus vaccine is essential for comprehensive protection against epidemiologically significant G serotypes.
Abstract:
Concomitant serotypes 1 and 4 infections were detected in a 15-month old female child with community-acquired diarrhoea which lasted 7 days and coursed with moderate dehydration. The evidence for dual rotavirus infection was offered by the following findings: a) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) positive reactions to both 1 and 4 serotypes; and b) extra-migrating bands at electrophoresis of RNA in polyacrylamide gel (PAGE). These results suggest that children living under poor sanitation conditions are heavily exposed to rotavirus infections; in addition, the co-circulation of different serotypes in the same setting sustains the current concept that a rotavirus vaccine should be multivalent, in order to protect children against the four epidemiologically important rotavirus G serotypes.