Epidemiological and genetic aspects of rotavirus gastroenteritis in Uzbekistan
Annotatsiya
Background: Rotavirus is the leading agent of acute gastroenteritis in children. To evaluate the pattern of diarrheal agents and genotypes of Rotavirus circulating in Uzbekistan we have performed two surveillance projects of acute diarrhea in children. Methods: 2450 stool samples from different regions of Uzbekistan were collected from children with acute diarrhea. The samples were tested for Shigella spp., Salmonella spp., pathogenic E. coli by conventional bacteriological methods and Rotavirus by ELISA. The genotyping was performed during second phase of surveillance by multiplex PCR for VP4 and VP7 genes in 101 samples. Results: The Rotavirus was detected in 40.04 samples (981 out of 2450 samples). The Rotavirus was detected in higher rate in outpatient facilities, than in inpatient ones. Rotavirus as a single pathogen was detected in 25.35% of the patients, in and detected in association with other bacterial pathogen in 14.61% of cases. Rotavirus infection were associated with pathogenic E. coli in 68 cases (19.0%), Citrobacter spp. – in cases 65 (18.16%), Enterobacter spp. - in 62 cases (17.32%), Salmonella typhimurium - 43 (12.01%), Shigella spp. - 32 (8.94%) of all associated cases. The multiplex PCR for VP4 and VP7 genes revealed the prevalence of P1 in 63.4% (63 out of 101), P4 in 16.8% (17 out of 101) and P6 in 5.9% (6 out of 101) genes. The G1 was revealed in 52.5% (53 samples), G3/4 in 2.97% (3 samples) and G12 in 1.98% (2 samples). Conclusion: P1 and G1 genotypes of Rotavirus prevail in Uzbekistan. There is a high rate of association of Rotavirus with other bacterial diarrheagenic pathogens. The implementation of vaccination against Rotavirus may benefit the reduction of Rotavirus morbidity among children in Uzbekistan.