Diversity of rotavirus strain circulated in gwangju, republic of Korea

Complete genome sequence analysis of rare G4P[6] rotavirus strains from human and pig reveals the evidence for interspecies transmission

Two rare human rotavirus strains, RVA/Human-wt/THA/CMH-N016-10/2010/G4P[6] and RVA/Human-wt/THA/CMH-N014-11/2011/G4P[6], were detected during the surveillance of group A rotavirus (RVA) in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Complete genome sequences of both strains were analyzed in comparison with that of the representative porcine G4P[6] RVA strain (RVA/Pig-wt/THA/CMP-011-09/2009/G4P[6]) detected in the same geographical area. Human RVA strain CMH-N016-10 containing the genotype constellation of G4-P[6]-I1-R1-C1-M1-A8-N1-T1-E1-H1 was identical to that of porcine RVA strain CMP-011-09. Another human RVA strain (CMH-N014-11) was also contained the genotype constellation of ten segments identical to those of CMH-N016-10 and of porcine RVA strain CMP-011-09 except for genotype I of VP6 gene which contained I5 instead of I1. The genotype constellation of CMH-N014-11, G4-P[6]-I5-R1-C1-M1-A8-N1-T1-E1-H1 was a novel genotype constellation that has not been reported previously in both human and pig. Phylogenetic analysis of all 11 genome segments revealed that both strains of human RVA were more closely related to porcine and porcine-like human than to human RVA reference strains, particularly those reported from Thailand and other Asian countries with very high nucleotide sequence identities ranging from 91.1-100% except for NSP4 gene from 86.1-92.2%. Based on complete genome constellation and overall phylogenetic analyses suggested that these two human G4P[6] strains may have probably originated from porcine RVA strains of independent ancestor. This study provided an evidence for direct interspecies transmission of porcine RVA from pig to human.

Rotavirus infection among hospitalized children under five years of age with acute watery diarrhea in Sri Lanka

BACKGROUND

Rotavirus is the leading cause of acute watery diarrhoea among children and is vaccine preventable. The aim of this hospital-based sentinel surveillance was to study the prevalence, demographic and clinical characteristics of rotavirus infections and to describe rotavirus genotype distribution patterns among children under five years of age hospitalized for acute watery diarrhea during the period of 2009-2016.

METHODS

Prospective, sentinel hospital-based surveillance was conducted in Lady Ridgeway Hospital (LRH) from 2009 to 2016. Stool samples of children admitted with acute watery diarrhea were tested by rotavirus antigen detection 'ProSpecT' Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA) at Department of Virology, Medical Research Institute, Colombo. Specimens that tested positive for rotavirus were further analyzed at the Regional Reference Laboratory (RRL) participating in the World Health Organization (WHO)-coordinated Global Rotavirus Surveillance Network (GRSN) to determine the genotype of strains by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

Of the 6090 children with diarrhea admitted, 1801 (29.5%) had stools taken and tested. In years with at least 11 months of data (2010 and 2013) rotavirus was detected in 36.5% (228/624) of specimens. Genotype G1P[8] was the most common genotype detected throughout the surveillance period (30.1%; 123/408) with G2P [8], G9P[8] and G3P[8] also detected.

CONCLUSIONS

Rotavirus is a common cause of pediatric diarrhea hospitalizations in Sri Lanka. National introduction of rotavirus vaccine could reduce the burden of pediatric diarrhea.

Distribution of Rotavirus Genotypes Ccirculating in Ahvaz, Iran in 2016

Background

Group A rotavirus (RVA) mainly causes acute gastroenteritis, exclusively in young children in developing countries. The prevalence and determination of the molecular epidemiology of rotavirus genotypes will determine the dominant rotavirus genotypes in the region and provide a strategy for the development of appropriate vaccines.

Methods

A total of 100 fecal samples were collected from children below five years with acute gastroenteritis who referred to Aboozar Children’s Hospital of Ahvaz city during October 2015 to March 2016. All samples were screened by latex agglutination for the presence of rotavirus antigen. Rotavirus-positive samples were further analyzed by the semi-multiplex RT-PCR, and the sequencing was performed for G/P genotyping.

Results

Findings showed that 32% of the specimens were RVA-positive. Among the 32 VP7 genotyped strains, the predominant G genotype was G9 (37.5%), followed by G2 (21.9%), G1 (12.5%), G12 (9.4%), G4 (9.4%), G2G9 (6.3%), and G3 (3.1%). Among the 31 VP4 genotyped strains, P[8] genotype was the dominant (62.5%), followed by P[4] (31.3%) and P[4] P[8] (3.1%). The genotypes for G and P were identified for 31 rotaviruses (96.87%), but only one strain, G9, remained non-typeable for the P genotype. The most prevalent G/P combination was G9P[8] (28.5%), followed by G2P[4] (18.8%), G1P[8] (9.4%), G12P[8] (9.4%), G4P[8] (9.4%), G2G9P[4] (6.3%), G9P[4] P[8] (3.1%), G3P[8] (3.1%), G9P[4] (3.1%), G2P[8] (3.1%), and G9P[non-typeable] (3.1%).

Conclusion

A novel rotavirus strain, G12, was detected, for the first time, in patients from the southwest of Iran. Comprehensive investigations are required to evaluate the emergence of this strain.

Post-marketing safety surveillance conducted in Korea (2008-2013) following the introduction of the rotavirus vaccine, RIX4414 (Rotarix™)

PURPOSE

According to regulations from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in Korea, additional safety information on the use of Rotarix™ vaccine (RIX4414; GSK, Belgium) in ≥3000 evaluable Korean infants was required following vaccine registration. In order to comply with these regulations, we conducted a 6-year open, non-comparative, multicenter post-marketing surveillance (NCT00750893).

METHODS

During this time, the original lyophilized vaccine formulation of RIX4414 was replaced by a liquid formulation. Healthy infants aged ≥6 weeks were enrolled and given 2 doses of the RIX4414 vaccine, separated by an interval of ≥4 weeks. The overall incidence of adverse events (AEs) (expected and unexpected) was then assessed for up to 30 days along with the incidence of serious adverse events (SAEs). Adverse drug reactions (ADRs: any AE whose causality to the drug could not be ruled out) were identified.

RESULTS

A total of 3040 children (mean age: 9.55 weeks) were analyzed. One or more expected AE was experienced by 30.5% infants and 8.6% had an ADR. The most commonly seen expected AE was irritability (14.0%). One or more unexpected AE was seen in 32.5% infants and 3.1% experienced an ADR. The most commonly seen unexpected AE was upper respiratory tract infection (8.7%). Of 34 SAEs recorded in 24 subjects, none were related to vaccination.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that this 6-year surveillance showed both formulations of RIX4414 to have acceptable safety profiles when administered to Korean infants according to local prescribing recommendations and current clinical practice.

Prevalence and genotype distribution of rotaviruses in children with gastroenteritis in Rize province

Determination of the distribution of rotavirus genotypes is essential for understanding the epidemiology of this virus responsible for nearly half a million of deaths in patients with gastroenteritis worldwide. In the present study, we aimed to genotype the rotavirus strains isolated from diarrheal stool samples in children under 5 years old. A total of 1297 fecal samples were collected, and rotavirus antigen was detected in 73 of these samples. Antigen-positive samples were transferred to the Public Health Agency of Turkey, Molecular Microbiology Research Laboratory, and were tested for determination of genotypes G and P using semi-nested multiplex polymerase chain reaction method performed with consensus- and genotype-specific primers. Twelve specimens were found to be negative for rotavirus in genotyping method. All the positive-strains were in G1-4, G8-9, P(4), P(8), and P(9) genotypes. The most frequent GP genotype combinations were found to be G9P(8) in 21 strains (34.4%), G2P(4) in 14 strains (23.0%), and G1P(8) in 12 strains (19.7%). We found 10 distinct genotypes amongst a total of 61 strains. Among the strains isolated and genotyped in our study, 90.2% (55/61) and 67.2% (41/61) have already been included in the two existing commercial vaccines. In conclusion, these findings implicate the necessity of development of region-specific vaccines after evaluation of the local genotype distribution. Further studies on the large number of rotavirus strains would contribute to this process.