Detection and molecular characterisation of Group A rotavirus from children in northern Botswana

• Published in: East African medical journal Vol. 82; no. 4; pp. 203 - 208
• Main Authors: Kabaabetswe, LP, Sebunya, TK, Matsheka, MI, Ndung'u, T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Nairobi Kenya Medical Association 01.04.2005
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Botswana; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Feces - virology; Gastroenteritis - virology; General aspects; Group a rotavirus; Humans; Infant; Medical sciences; Rotavirus; Rotavirus - isolation & purification; Rotavirus Infections - diagnosis; Botswana; Africa; Human; Virus; Microbiological investigation; Human rotavirus; Rotavirus; Virological exploration; Tropical medicine; Child; Reoviridae
• ISSN: 0012-835X; 0012-835X
• DOI: 10.4314/eamj.v82i4.9282

To determine the presence of group A rotavirus in human stool samples in northern Botswana and to characterise the circulating strains. A cross sectional study. The University of Botswana and Botswana-Havard Partnership for HIV Research. A total of 210 stool samples was collected; 104 from hospitalised and 106 from non-hospitalised children, five years and below suffering from gastroenteritis. Out of 210 diarrhoea stool samples collected, 27 (13%) tested positive for group A rotavirus. There was a higher prevalence of infection in hospitalised children (63%) as compared to the non-hospitalised ones (37%). Most rotavirus infections occurred in the age 24 months and below. Of the 13 samples which were positive by PAGE, the predominant electrophoretic pattern detected was the short (S) electrophoretype 9/13 (69%) followed by the long (L) electrophoretype 4/13 (31%). The following G types were detected; G2 (17%), G3 (22%), mixed infections found were G1+G2 (5.6%), G1+G8 (22%), G3+G9 (27.8%) and G1+G3+G9 (5.6%). P[6] was the only VP 4 genotype detected. Rotavirus strains G3P[6] and G3+G9P[6] were identified as the circulating strains in north Botswana. The detection of uncommon rotavirus strains and the high proportion of mixed infections suggest a greater diversity of rotavirus infections among children in Botswana than previously reported. Our study reveals a complex epidemiological profile of rotavirus infection in Botswana that may require further molecular characterisation.