Molecular epidemiology of group A rotavirus in children with diarrhea in Xiamen

Objective To investigate the epidemiological characteristics and genotypes of group A rotavirus (RV-A) among inpatients and outpatients children with diarrhea in Xiamen to provide basic data and theoretical basis for prevention and treatment of rotavirus diarrhea. Methods A total of 5 787 fecal samples from children under 10 years old in four hospitals in Xiamen from Jan 2016 to Dec 2017 were detected by immunochromamatoraphy double antibody sandwich assay. Systematic sampling was applied for collection of 98 fecal samples from 1 435 samples with rotavirus positive. Reverse transcription nested PCR was applied for determination of G and P genotypes. Results Among the 5 787 patients, 1 435 specimens were detected to be RV positive (24.8%). Genotyping of 98 rotaviruses showed that G9 (69.4%) was the most predominant, followed by G2 (5.1%), G1 (4.1%) and G3 (1.0%). Twenty cases were undetermined as G type. For P types, P[8]was predominant, accounting for 75.5% and the prevalence of P[4] was 5.1%. Nineteen cases were undetermined as P type. The combination of genotypes were P[8]G9 (64.3%), followed by P[4]G2 (5.1%), P[8]G1 (4.1%) and P[8]G3 (1.0%). Conclusions Rotavirus is the main pathogen among infants and children with diarrhea in Xiamen. P[8]G9 is the most prevalent genotypes. Continuously monitoring RV-A epidemic genotypes is helpful to provide data for local prevention and control of RV-A infection and introduction of rotavirus vaccine. Key words: Rotavirus; Diarrhea; Genotype; Epidemiology