Genomic Analysis of G2P[4] Group A Rotaviruses in Zambia Reveals Positive Selection in Amino Acid Site 7 of Viral Protein 3.

The G2P[4] genotype is among the rotavirus strains that circulate commonly in humans. Several countries have reported its immediate upsurge after the introduction of rotavirus vaccination, raising concern about sub-optimal vaccine effectiveness against this genotype in the long term. This study aimed to gain insight into the evolution of post-vaccine Zambian G2P[4] group A rotavirus (RVA) strains and their overall genetic make-up by analysis of sequence alignments at the amino acid (AA) level.

Whole Genome Analysis of Human Rotaviruses Reveals Single Gene Reassortant Rotavirus Strains in Zambia.

Rotarix vaccine was implemented nationwide in Zambia in 2013. In this study, four unusual strains collected in the post-vaccine period were subjected to whole genome sequencing and analysis. The four strains possessed atypical genotype constellations, with at least one reassortant genome segment within the constellation.

Age distribution and mortality associated with intussusception in children under two years of age in nine sentinel surveillance hospitals in Zambia, 2007-2018.

Introduction: recipients of monovalent rotavirus vaccine have a low risk of developing intussusception (IS) in high- to medium-high-income countries. In sub-Saharan Africa, Zambia included, this risk of IS has not been assessed. Two-dose monovalent rotavirus vaccine, introduced in Zambia in 2012 in the capital of Lusaka, and rolled out countrywide in 2013, is administered at 6 and 10 weeks of age with no catch-up dose.

Rotavirus breakthrough infections responsible for gastroenteritis in vaccinated infants who presented with acute diarrhoea at University Teaching Hospitals, Children's Hospital in 2016, in Lusaka Zambia.

Background: In Zambia, before rotavirus vaccine introduction, the virus accounted for about 10 million episodes of diarrhoea, 63 000 hospitalisations and 15 000 deaths in 2015, making diarrhoea the third leading cause of death after pneumonia and malaria. In Zambia, despite the introduction of the vaccine acute diarrhoea due to rotaviruses has continued to affect children aged five years and below. This study aimed to characterise the rotavirus genotypes which were responsible for diarrhoeal infections in vaccinated infants aged 2 to 12 months and to determine the relationship between rotavirus strains and the severity of diarrhoea in 2016.

Whole Genome Analysis of African G12P[6] and G12P[8] Rotaviruses Provides Evidence of Porcine-Human Reassortment at NSP2, NSP3, and NSP4.

Group A rotaviruses (RVA) represent the most common cause of pediatric gastroenteritis in children <5 years, worldwide. There has been an increase in global detection and reported cases of acute gastroenteritis caused by RVA genotype G12 strains, particularly in Africa. This study sought to characterize the genomic relationship between African G12 strains and determine the possible origin of these strains.