Epidemiology of rotavirus diarrhoea in Albania.
The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of rotavirus disease in children<5 years old in Tirana, Albania, and to monitor and characterize the rotavirus genotypes. Rotavirus was detected in 21% of samples, more frequently in children under 2 years of age, which accounted for 80.8% of all positive cases. Among all rotavirus-positive samples collected, G4P[8] was the most prevalent genotype (38%), followed by G1P[8] (36.6%). The use of safe and effective rotavirus vaccines for the prevention of severe diarrhoea and the reduction of treatment costs will be of great importance for Albania.
Control of Communicable Disease Department, Institute of Public Health, Tirana, Albania, mdhimolea@live.com.
M
M
Kota
S
S
Bino
R
R
Delogu
A
A
Simaku
B
B
Neza
F M
FM
Ruggeri
L
L
Fiore
D000367:Age Factors; D000415:Albania / Q000453:epidemiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology
D012367:RNA, Viral