Immunological and molecular detection of rotavirus genotype in children with gastroenteritis in Diyala-Iraq

Aim: To explore the prevalence along with the molecular detection and genotyping of group A rotavirus (RVA) among children up to 5 years old complaining of gastroenteritis in Diyala province-Iraq.

Methods: This is a cross sectional study conducted in Diyala province-Iraq during the period of 2019-2020. One hundred children up to 5 years old with gastroenteritis were enrolled. 54% were males and 46% were females. They were attending hospitals or primary healthcare centers. All were vaccinated with rotavirus vaccine. Blood and fecal samples were collected from each subject. Serum anti-rotavirus IgM and IgG plus fecal rotavirus Ag were tested for using ELISA techniques. Stool samples positive for rotavirus Ag were submitted for conventional PCR and for G and P genotyping thereafter. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 25 and P values ≤ 0.05 were considered significant.

Results: The anti-rotavirus IgM and IgG positivity rates among children were 71% (P = 0.001) and 81% (P = 0.0001), respectively. Additionally, the rotavirus stool antigen was positive in 75% of the children (P = 0.001). Among 61 stool samples submitted for conventional PCR technique, the rotavirus RNA was detected in 25 (40.9%). The sequencing and genotyping investigation of 10 PCR positive products revealed that all investigated viral samples belonged to G1P[8] rotavirus A genotype.

Conclusion: The current strains analyzed belonged to the G1P[8] rotavirus A genotypes, indicating high coverage of current rotavirus vaccines and affirming the importance of continuous characterization of circulating rotavirus strains and monitoring vaccine efficacy.