Background and aims: The aim of the present study was to start the epidemiological and genotypical surveillance of rotavirus gastroenteritis in West Cameroon during the rainy season. Methods: Patients met the following inclusion criteria: age (0-10 yrs.), acute diarrhoea, abdominal pain, vomiting, collection of stool sample in the first 48 hrs after recruitment. Each subject was clinically examined and the severity of gastroenteritis was evaluated by the Ruuska-Vesikari Scale. Each stool sample was analysed using chromatographic assay and bio-molecular techniques. Results: Fifty-six patients were recruited. Main symptoms were fever, diarrhoea, vomiting; 21% of subjects had a Ruuska-Vesikari score ≥11. rotavirus -positive samples by RT-PCR were 38% (N=19). Three different G-genotypes (G1, G2 and G8) and VP4 genotypes (P[8], P[6] and P[4]) were predominant. The main G-P combination was G1+G2P[8]. Mixed rotavirus infections have also been detected. Conclusion: The present research represented the pilot part of a project that will be performed during 2011-2012. The identified G2P[8] genotype is an unusual emerging combination; G8 strains, associated with animals, have been sporadically recovered from humans. The untypeable P-type rotavirus strains may represent unusual rotavirus strains. Instead of some limitations of this study, results are in line with the literature and confirm rotavirus as one of the main cause of paediatric diarrhoea in the studied areas even during the rainy season. The main perspective is to continue this surveillance, considering that this will generate data on circulating rotavirus strains that are basic to vaccine development and to vaccine effectiveness.
Evaluation of rotavirus infection in a paediatric population of West Cameroon: epidemiological, clinical characteristic and virus genotyping
GRASSI, Tiziana;DE DONNO, Maria Antonella;IDOLO, ADELE;
2012-01-01
Abstract
Background and aims: The aim of the present study was to start the epidemiological and genotypical surveillance of rotavirus gastroenteritis in West Cameroon during the rainy season. Methods: Patients met the following inclusion criteria: age (0-10 yrs.), acute diarrhoea, abdominal pain, vomiting, collection of stool sample in the first 48 hrs after recruitment. Each subject was clinically examined and the severity of gastroenteritis was evaluated by the Ruuska-Vesikari Scale. Each stool sample was analysed using chromatographic assay and bio-molecular techniques. Results: Fifty-six patients were recruited. Main symptoms were fever, diarrhoea, vomiting; 21% of subjects had a Ruuska-Vesikari score ≥11. rotavirus -positive samples by RT-PCR were 38% (N=19). Three different G-genotypes (G1, G2 and G8) and VP4 genotypes (P[8], P[6] and P[4]) were predominant. The main G-P combination was G1+G2P[8]. Mixed rotavirus infections have also been detected. Conclusion: The present research represented the pilot part of a project that will be performed during 2011-2012. The identified G2P[8] genotype is an unusual emerging combination; G8 strains, associated with animals, have been sporadically recovered from humans. The untypeable P-type rotavirus strains may represent unusual rotavirus strains. Instead of some limitations of this study, results are in line with the literature and confirm rotavirus as one of the main cause of paediatric diarrhoea in the studied areas even during the rainy season. The main perspective is to continue this surveillance, considering that this will generate data on circulating rotavirus strains that are basic to vaccine development and to vaccine effectiveness.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
