title: Rotavirus genotypes associated with childhood severe acute diarrhoea in southern Ghana: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rotavirus immunization has been effective in developed countries where genotype G1P[8] is the predominant rotavirus strain. Knowledge of circulating strains in a population before introduction of rotavirus immunization program will be useful in evaluating the effect of the intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rotavirus was identified by enzyme immuno-assay (EIA) on stool specimens of children (age 0-59 months) hospitalized with acute gastroenteritis from August 2007 to February 2011 in Accra, Ghana. Rotavirus positive specimens were further characterized by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 2277 acute gastroenteritis hospitalizations 1099 (48.2%) were rotavirus-positive by EIA. Of the 1099 cases 977 (89%) were PAGE positive. All EIA positive specimens were further subjected to RT-PCR and 876 (79.7%) had sufficient material for characterization. Of these 876 cases, 741 (84.6%) were assigned G genotype, 709 (80.9%) P genotype, and 624 (71.2%) both G and P genotypes. We identified 8 G genotypes (G1, G2, G3, G4, G8, G9, G10, G12) and 3 P genotypes (P[4], P[6], P[8]). G1 (50.9%), G2 (18.8%), G3 (12.8%), P[8] (36.1%) and P[6] (30.7%) were the most prevalent. The most prevalent genotype combination was G1P[8] (28%). Mixed G (7.3%) and P (24.2%) genotypes were not uncommon. There was year-by-year and seasonal variations for most genotypes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is great diversity of rotavirus strains in children with severe gastroenteritis in southern Ghana. Even though cross-protection with vaccine-induced immunity occurs, continued strain surveillance is recommended after the introduction of rotavirus vaccine in the national immunization program.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Health, University of Ghana Medical School, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana. chikalaryea@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Christabel C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Enweronu-Laryea
authors.forename: Kwamena W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Sagoe
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Damanka
authors.forename: Belinda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lartey
authors.forename: George E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Armah
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D005869:Ghana / Q000453:epidemiology; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral
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