Genetic characterization of rotavirus subtypes in Pakistan-first report of G12 genotype from Pakistan under WHO-Eastern Mediterranean region.
Rotaviruses are among the major causes of gastroenteritis and diarrhea among children in developed as well as the developing countries. The rapidly evolving strain prevalence and circulation have resulted in the emergence of novel strains over the period worldwide. The introduction of G12 prototype in 1987 from Philippines and subsequently re-emergence among most of the Asian countries along with USA and Europe has provoked new research horizons to address the global distribution of rotavirus serotypes. These newly emerging subtypes and their sustenance among the population have posed tremendous challenge to the development of an effectual vaccine with heterotypic protective efficacy. In Pakistan, no data is available regarding the prevalent rotavirus serotypes; therefore, this is the first study to report the prevalence of G12 strain in Pakistan in hospitalized children with diarrhea addressing a dire need of further large-scale epidemiological surveys to resolve the underlying rotavirus isolates in both the hospitalized and the community neonatal and child population before formulating the vaccine introduction policies in the country's routine immunization program.
Alam
Muhammad Masroor
MM
Department of Virology, National Institute of Health, Chak Shahzad, Park Road, Islamabad 54400, Pakistan.
Malik
Salman Akbar
SA
Shaukat
Shahzad
S
Naeem
Asif
A
Sharif
Salmaan
S
Angez
Mehar
M
Rana
Muhammad Suleman
MS
Khurshid
Adnan
A
Zaidi
Sohail Zahoor
SZ
D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D015995:Prevalence; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017385:Sequence Homology
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D036022:Capsid Proteins; C050779:VP7 protein, Rotavirus