Molecular epidemiology and surveillance of circulating rotavirus among children with gastroenteritis in Bangladesh during 2014-2019

PLoS One. 2020 Nov 30;15(11):e0242813. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0242813. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Acute gastroenteritis is one of the major health problems in children aged <5 years around the world. Rotavirus A (RVA) is an important pathogen of acute gastroenteritis. The burden of rotavirus disease in the pediatric population is still high in Bangladesh. This study investigated the prevalence of group A, B, and C rotavirus (RAV, RBV, RCV), norovirus, adenovirus (AdV) and human bocavirus (HBoV) infections in children with acute gastroenteritis in Bangladesh from February 2014 to January 2019. A total of 574 fecal specimens collected from children with diarrhea in Bangladesh during the period of February 2014-January 2019 were examined for RAV, RBV and RCV by reverse transcriptase- multiplex polymerase chain reaction (RT- multiplex PCR). RAV was further characterized to G-typing and P-typing by RT-multiplex PCR and sequencing method. It was found that 24.4% (140 of 574) fecal specimens were positive for RVA followed by AdV of 4.5%. RBV and RCV could not be detected in this study. Genotype G1P[8] was the most prevalent (43%), followed by G2P[4] (18%), and G9P[8] (3%). Among other genotypes, G9P[4] was most frequent (12%), followed by G1P[6] (11%), G9P[6] (3%), and G11P[25] (3%). We found that 7% RVA were nontypeable. Mutations at antigenic regions of the VP7 gene were detected in G1P[8] and G2P[4] strains. Incidence of rotavirus infection had the highest peak (58.6%) during November to February with diarrhea (90.7%) as the most common symptom. Children aged 4-11 months had the highest rotavirus infection percentage (37.9%). By providing baseline data, this study helps to assess efficacy of currently available RVA vaccine. This study revealed a high RVA detection rate, supporting health authorities in planning strategies such as introduction of RVA vaccine in national immunization program to reduce the disease burden.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Bangladesh / epidemiology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Epidemiological Monitoring
  • Gastroenteritis / diagnosis
  • Gastroenteritis / epidemiology*
  • Gastroenteritis / virology
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Middle Aged
  • Molecular Epidemiology*
  • Phylogeny
  • Rotavirus / genetics
  • Rotavirus / pathogenicity*
  • Rotavirus Infections / diagnosis
  • Rotavirus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Rotavirus Infections / virology
  • Vaccines / therapeutic use
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Vaccines

Grants and funding

This research was supported by Grants-in-Aid from the Ministry of Education, the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. The fund was granted to Dr. Shuvra Kanti Dey. The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.