Epidemiological, molecular, and clinical features of rotavirus infections among pediatrics in Qatar

• Published in: European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases Vol. 40; no. 6; pp. 1177 - 1190
• Main Authors: Mathew, Shilu, Al Ansari, Khalid, Al Thani, Asmaa A., Zaraket, Hassan, Yassine, Hadi M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.06.2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adolescent; Age; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Chi-square test; Child; Child, Preschool; Children; Constellations; Demographics; Demography; Developed countries; Diarrhea; Epidemiology; Female; Gastroenteritis; Gastroenteritis - epidemiology; Gastroenteritis - virology; Genotype; Genotypes; Humans; Illnesses; Incidence; Infant; Infections; Internal Medicine; Male; Medical Microbiology; Original Article; Pediatrics; Pediatrics - statistics & numerical data; Phylogeny; Qatar - epidemiology; Rotavirus; Rotavirus - classification; Rotavirus - genetics; Rotavirus - isolation & purification; Rotavirus Infections - epidemiology; Rotavirus Infections - virology; Seasons; Sex differences; Statistical tests; Viruses; Vomiting; Qatar; Rotavirus; Genotyping; Vaccination; Age-specific
• DOI: 10.1007/s10096-020-04108-y
• ISSN: 0934-9723; 1435-4373

Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) remains a major cause of diarrhea in developing and developed countries. Rotavirus (RV) is a leading cause of severe pediatric diarrhea worldwide. Here we report on the prevalence of circulating genotypes in association with demographics and clinical manifestations outcomes in Qatar. A total of 231 RV-positive fecal samples were collected from children suffering from AGE during 3 years study period between June 2016 and June 2019. The age of the subjects ranged between 2 months and 14 years (median of 16 months). The VP4 and VP7 were amplified and sequenced. Phylogenetic analyses were performed using MEGA7.0. Pearson’s chi-squared test was used to determine significant differences for comparisons of general categorical variables. RV infections were most common in children between 1 and 3 years of age (49%), followed by those < 1 year and > 3 years of age (33% and 28%, respectively). RV infections were more frequent in males than females, with a ratio of 1.4:1. RV infections occurred throughout the year, with a noticeable increase in summer (42.8%) and a drop in winter (20.1%). RV genotypes G3P[8] (30.8%), G2P[8] (12.3%), G4P[8] (11.7%), and G1P[8] (10.4%) were the common genotypes during the study period. The G3P[8] strain detected in our study revealed similarities to the equine-like G3P[8] (10.3%; 24/231) (KT988229.1), Wa-like genomic constellation (9%; 21/231) (MF563894.1), and DS-1-like strains (6.4%; 15/231) (LC386081.1). Based on the Vesikari score system, severe clinical illness including diarrhea and vomiting (average frequency: 4 to 5 times/day) was recorded for G3P[8] group, followed by G9P[8], G4P[8], and G1P[8]. Higher incidence for G3P[8], G2P[8], G4P[8], and G1P[8] were reported in Qatari subjects compared to other nationalities. The multinational status of a small country explains the wide diversity of circulating RV genotypes in Qatar. The highest prevalence and severe illnesses were recorded to G3P[8], which is different from other surrounding countries/global levels.