title: Molecular surveillance of rotavirus infection in the Democratic Republic of the Congo August 2009 to June 2012.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rotavirus is a major cause of severe diarrhea worldwide. It causes 453,000 deaths in children annually. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, sentinel site surveillance of rotavirus gastroenteritis started in 2009 and aimed to document burden of rotavirus diarrhea and identify circulating rotavirus genotypes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between August 2009 to June 2012, stool samples were collected in Kinshasa and Lubumbashi, from children <5 years of age who met the WHO case definition for rotavirus gastroenteritis. Rotavirus antigen detection was performed using an enzyme immunoassay technique and rotavirus strains were characterized using a multiplex reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the study period, 1614 stool samples were screened for rotavirus by enzyme immunoassay and 990 (61%) were positive. Of these, the genotype was determined in 330 (33%) samples. The most common genotypes found in the samples analyzed were G1P[8] in 2009 (28%) and 2012 (33%), G2P[4] (33%) in 2010 and G2P[6] (28%) in 2011. Uncommon strains like G8P[6] (5%), G6P[6] (5%), G12P[6] (3%), G12P[8] (3%) and G8P[8] (2%) were also detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In Democratic Republic of the Congo, 61% of the diarrhea in children in <5 years of age was caused by rotavirus infection and a variety of rotavirus genotypes were detected. Implementation of rotavirus genotyping at the national level has improved the timely identification of rotavirus strains. These results will help decision makers in Democratic Republic of the Congo plan the implementation of a rotavirus vaccination program.
authors.affiliation: From the *Institut National de Recherches Biomédicales, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo; †Division of Viral Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA; ‡World Health Organization Country Office of DRC, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo; §Medical Research Council/Diarrhoeal Pathogens Research Unit, University of Limpopo, Medunsa Campus, South Africa; ¶Centre Hospitalier Pédiatrique de Kalembelembe; ‖Ministry of Heath, Direction of Immunization Program, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo; and **Global Immunization Division, Center for Global Health, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Pukuta
authors.forename: Mathew D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Esona
authors.forename: Adolphe
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nkongolo
authors.forename: Mapaseka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Seheri
authors.forename: Mingiele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Makasi
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nyembwe
authors.forename: Vital
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mondonge
authors.forename: Benjamin A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Dahl
authors.forename: M Jeffrey
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Mphahlele
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cavallaro
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gentsch
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Bowen
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Waku-Kouomou
authors.forename: Jean-Jacques
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Muyembe
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo / Q000453:epidemiology; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D012621:Seasons; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance