title: Genotypes of rotavirus strains circulating in Amman, Jordan, in 2006/07 and their significance for the potential effectiveness of future rotavirus vaccination.
abstract: The prevalence, seasonality and genotypes of rotavirus circulating in Jordan were determined to provide data useful for the implementation of a rotavirus vaccine in the national childhood vaccination program. During 2006/07, rotavirus was detected in 35% of hospitalized children, and 88% of the cases occurred in children aged between 6 and 23 months. Rotavirus infection persisted throughout the year and peaked in winter. Seven genotypes were identified by RT-PCR and sequencing: G1P[8], G9P[8], G2P[4], G1P[4], G3P[8], G4P[8] and G9P[6], which represented 69%, 8.8%, 2.4%, 2.0%, 1.2%, 0.4% and 0.4% of the rotavirus strains, respectively. Thirteen percent and 2.8% of the total strains were partially typed or untypeable, respectively. Eighty-eight percent and 12% of the rotavirus strains possessed a long and short electropherotype, respectively. As more than 90% of the rotavirus strains circulating in Jordan possessed the G1 or P[8]-genotype, it is concluded that the implementation of the rotavirus vaccine in the framework of the national childhood vaccination program of Jordan would most likely be very effective. Continuous monitoring of the currently circulating genotypes in Jordan should be encouraged.
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.
authors: Khitam
authors: K
authors: Salem
authors: Salwa
authors: S
authors: Bdour
authors: Mark
authors: M
authors: Zeller
authors: Marc
authors: M
authors: Van Ranst
authors: Jelle
authors: J
authors: Matthijnssens