title: Prevalence and characterization of rotaviruses in children hospitalized for diarrheal disease in a tertiary care hospital, Pune.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diarrhoea remains the second most common cause of death among children below 5 years globally. Among various enteric pathogens, rotavirus appears to be the most important aetiological agent of acute gastroenteritis in infants and young children. Increased understanding of epidemiology of rotavirus infections is needed to improve the vaccine efficacy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to determine prevalence rotavirus infection and prevalent circulating strains of rotavirus in and around Pune.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective hospital-based study. The study was approved by Institutional Ethical Committee.
  
  
  METHODS
  Stool samples (n = 100) were collected from children aged <5 years, hospitalised for acute diarrhoea in paediatric ward at a tertiary care hospital. Samples were subjected for rotavirus antigen capture ELISA. The viral RNA was subjected to multiplex reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction to amplify VP7 genotypes G1-G4, G8-G10 and G12 and VP4 genotypes P[4], P[6], P[8], P[9], P[10] and P[11]. Nontypable rotavirus strains were sequenced.
  
  
  RESULTS
  About 35% stool samples were positive for rotavirus antigen by ELISA. G9P[4] (28.6%) was found to be the most prevalent rotavirus strain. The detection of emerging strain G12P[6] (14.3%) and rare reassortant strain G9P[4] was the significant finding.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Genotypes found in circulation are not present in the currently used vaccine. Thus, an emergence of newer genotypes over a period calls for the continued surveillance and genomic characterisation of rotaviruses to improve the vaccine efficacy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, B.J. Government Medical College, Sassoon General Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Sae Satish
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Pol
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, B.J. Government Medical College, Sassoon General Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Ashwini Kacharu
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Dedwal
authors.affiliation: Rotavirus Division, National Institute of Virology, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Sujata Sudhir
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Ranshing
authors.affiliation: Rotavirus Division, National Institute of Virology, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Shobha Dattatray
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Chitambar
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, B.J. Government Medical College, Sassoon General Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Sushma Narayan
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Pednekar
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, B.J. Government Medical College, Sassoon General Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Renu Satish
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Bharadwaj
mesh_terms: D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D060005:Genotyping Techniques; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral