Molecular Characterisation Of Rotaviruses Detected In Children Under The Age Of Five Years With Diarrhoea In Kano State-nigeria

ABSTRACTRotaviruses are the most common cause of severe diarrhoeal illness in infants and youngchildren in both developing and developed countries resulting in much death in sub-SaharanAfrica and Nigeria. A total of 285 stool specimens were collected from November, 2009 to July,2010.and analyzed for group A antigen using ELISA and RT-PCR, The prevalence of rotavirusin this study was 36.5% (104/285). Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital had 44.4% whileGwarzo General Hospital had the lowest prevalence rate of 21.4%. The virus was detected morein males 37.2% (61/164) than in females 35.4% (43/121). However, there is no statisticallysignificant difference (χ2=0.11, P>0.05, df =1) observed between the prevalence in males andfemales. Rotavirus was detected with the highest frequency among children in the age 41-60months with 50% prevalence. The least prevalence was in age 31-40 months having 15.8%. Theprevalence was highest in April with 77.6% and lowest in July 12.2%. Pearson Chi squareanalysis showed significant difference (χ2=27.720, P<0.05, df=1) of rotavirus infection in thetwo different seasons. Three different Rotavirus VP4 P-genotypes (P[8], P[4], and P[6]) weredetected in this study. Mixed infection were detected and consist only of dual P-types ofP[8]+P[6]. Analysis of the Rotavirus strains indicates that P[6] was the most common Rotavirusinfection in the study population with frequency of 50 (48.5%). Six VP7 P-genotypes weredetected. The predominant genotype was G2 with a prevalence of 35.0%. The lowest was G9which had a prevalence of 1.9%. The highest combination was found to be G2P[6] with 19.4%frequency of occurrence. A single GNTP[8+6] (non-typeable G and P[8+6]) mixed combinationof infection was also found among the study population. Finally there is need for further studieson the molecular characterization of rotavirus and the need to provide effective vaccine againstthe viral infection cannot be over emphasized.

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