Abstract

Rotaviruses are recognized as the most common causes of severe gastroenteritis and death among children worldwide. The aim of this study was to evaluate the disease burden of rotavirus gastroenteritis and the prevalence of different G genotypes of rotaviruses circulating in children aged <5 years old who were hospitalized for acute gastroenteritis in Borazjan City, Iran. This cross sectional-descriptive study was done on 316 fecal samples collected from children aged <5 years old with acute gastroenteritis. All the stool specimens were tested for rotavirus with enzyme immunoassays (EIA). Rotavirus-positive specimens were genotyped by the Nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and using different type specific primers. Out of total collected samples rotavirus infection was detected in 88 (27.85%). Of the rotavirus episodes, 79.54% occurred during the first 2 years of life, with the peak prevalence of severe rotavirus disease occurring in cold seasons. Among the common genotypes, G1 was the most predominant (52.27% of strains) and other identified genotypes included non-typeable, G9 and G4, 40.90%, 4.54% and 2.27% of isolates, respectively. Because of the high frequency of rotavirus infection it is important to continue rotavirus surveillance in the other regions of Iran to determine accurately the burden of rotavirus disease and the emerging new genotypes. This will assist policy makers in decision making on rotavirus vaccine introduction.

Key words: Human rotaviruses, diarrhea, genotypes, children, surveillance.