Circulating Genotypes of Rotavirus Prior to Rotarix?vaccine Introduction in Kathmandu, Nepal

  • Sony Shrestha Public Health Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Microbiology, Maharajgunj Medical Campus, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu Nepal
  • Ocean Thakali Public Health Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Microbiology, Maharajgunj Medical Campus, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu Nepal
  • Sunayana Raya Public Health Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Microbiology, Maharajgunj Medical Campus, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu Nepal
  • Samendra Sherchan Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Tulane University, 1440 Canal Street, Suite 2100, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
  • Laxman Shrestha Department of Child Health, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu Nepal
  • Keshab Parajuli Public Health Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Microbiology, Maharajgunj Medical Campus, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu Nepal
  • Jeevan Bahadhur Sherchand Public Health Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Microbiology, Maharajgunj Medical Campus, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu Nepal

Abstract

Background: In Nepal, it is estimated that about 3 million children under 5 years of age are prone to diarrhea and previous studies have shown rotavirus as the major etiological agent. Given the high burden of rotavirus, Rotarix® vaccine was introduced in the national immunization schedule in July 2020. This study was carried out in a tertiary health center from January- September 2018 to determine the burden of rotavirus diarrhea as well as genotypic variations in the circulating virus prior to vaccine introduction in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Methods: Hospital based cross sectional study was conducted among children less than 5 years of age attending Kanti Children’s Hospital. Rotavirus antigen detection was performed by enzyme immunoassay using ProSpecT Rotavirus Microplate Assay. Rotavirus A positive samples were further confirmed by genotyping using Reverse-Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction.
Results: A total of 530 children that included 184 males and 346 females were enrolled in this study. Rotavirus antigen was detected in 112 (21.1%) stool samples. Of the total 112 positive EIA stool samples that were genotyped, G12P[6] (30.3%) was found to be the most common type, followed by G3P[8] (26.8%), mixed type (14.3%), and G1P[6] (13.4%).
Conclusions: Continued surveillance should be carried out nationwide in Nepal to understand the effectiveness of the vaccination program and to report any new trends in the circulating genotypes.
Keywords: Children under five years of age; diarrhea; Nepal; rotavirus strains; RT_PCR

Published
2021-12-14
How to Cite
Shrestha, S., Thakali, O., Raya, S., Sherchan, S., Shrestha, L., Parajuli, K., & Sherchand, J. B. (2021). Circulating Genotypes of Rotavirus Prior to Rotarix?vaccine Introduction in Kathmandu, Nepal. Journal of Nepal Health Research Council, 19(03), 508-512. https://doi.org/10.33314/jnhrc.v19i3.3512