title: Molecular surveillance of rotavirus infection in Bangui, Central African Republic, October 2011-September 2013.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the introduction of rotavirus vaccine in the immunization program of all countries. In the Central African Republic (CAR), sentinel surveillance for rotavirus gastroenteritis was established in 2011 by the Ministry of Health, with the support of the Surveillance en Afrique Centrale Project (SURVAC). The purpose of this study was to assess the burden of rotavirus gastroenteritis and to identify rotavirus strains circulating in CAR before the introduction of rotavirus vaccine planned for this year, 2014.
  
  
  METHODS
  One sentinel site and one laboratory at the national level were designated by the CAR Ministry of Health to participate in this surveillance system. Stool samples were collected from children who met the WHO rotavirus gastroenteritis case definition (WHO, 2006). The samples were first screened for group A rotavirus antigen by enzyme immunoassay (EIA), and genotyping assays performed using a multiplex reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between October 2011 and September 2013, 438 stool samples were collected and analyzed for detection of rotavirus antigen; 206 (47%) were positive. Among the 160 (78%) that could be genotyped, G2P[6] was the predominant strain (47%) followed by G1P[8] (25%) and G2P[4] (13%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Almost half of stool samples obtained from children hospitalized with gastroenteritis were positive for rotavirus. These baseline rotavirus surveillance data will be useful to health authorities considering rotavirus vaccine introduction and for evaluating the efficacy of rotavirus vaccine once it is introduced into the routine immunization system.
authors.affiliation: Institut Pasteur de Bangui, Bangui, Central African Republic.
authors.forename: Virginie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Banga-Mingo
authors.affiliation: Division of Viral Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, United States. Electronic address: irf6@cdc.gov.
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Waku-Kouomou
authors.affiliation: Complexe Pédiatrique de Bangui, Bangui, Central African Republic.
authors.forename: Jean Chrysostome
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Gody
authors.affiliation: Division of Viral Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, United States.
authors.forename: Mathew D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Esona
authors.affiliation: Institut Pasteur de Bangui, Bangui, Central African Republic.
authors.forename: Jean Fandema
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Yetimbi
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization Country Office of Central African Republic, Bangui, Central African Republic.
authors.forename: Regis
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mbary-Daba
authors.affiliation: Global Immunization Division, Center for Global Health, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, United States.
authors.forename: Benjamin A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Dahl
authors.affiliation: Complexe Pédiatrique de Bangui, Bangui, Central African Republic.
authors.forename: Leon
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dimanche
authors.affiliation: Programme Elargi de vaccination, Bangui, Central African Republic.
authors.forename: Thomas d'Aquin
authors.initials: Td
authors.lastname: Koyazegbe
authors.affiliation: Institut Pasteur de Bangui, Bangui, Central African Republic.
authors.forename: Vianney
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tricou
authors.affiliation: Global Immunization Division, Center for Global Health, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, United States.
authors.forename: Kathleen F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Cavallaro
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization Country Office of Central African Republic, Bangui, Central African Republic.
authors.forename: Gilbert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guifara
authors.affiliation: Division of Viral Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, United States.
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Bowen
authors.affiliation: Institut Pasteur de Bangui, Bangui, Central African Republic.
authors.forename: Ionela
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gouandjika-Vasilache
mesh_terms: D002488:Central African Republic / Q000453:epidemiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000266:history / Q000821:virology; D005838:Genotype; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000266:history / Q000821:virology*
keywords: Central African Republic; Gastroenteritis; Pediatrics; Rotavirus; Surveillance