Genetic Characteristics of Rotavirus Acute Gastroenteritis Among Hospitalized Children of Odisha in Eastern India.

Objective: To generate epidemiological data of rotavirus diarrhea among hospitalized children less than 5 y of age and to characterize the circulating rotavirus genotypes post introduction of rotavirus vaccine in Universal Immunization Program (UIP).

Methods: This prospective study was conducted from April 2016 to July 2019 at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Post Graduate Institute of Paediatrics & SCB Medical College, Cuttack, Odisha among hospitalized children with acute gastroenteritis (AGE) under five years of age. Stool samples collected were tested for rotavirus by a commercial enzyme immunoassay and strains were characterized by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The data was analysed using a chi-square test with 95% confidence interval and risk ratio.

Results: Rotavirus diarrhea was seen in 715 (36.4%) of the 1963 samples tested. The peak incidence of rotavirus diarrhea was during the winter season, i.e., from the month of December to February. Most of the infections were in children between 6 mo to 2 y of age, affecting boys and girls equally. The commonest genotypes were G3P[8] (50.34%) followed by G1P[8] (17.46%).

Conclusion: This study highlights the high prevalence of rotavirus diarrhea among children which emphasize the need for continued rotavirus vaccination. The changing patterns of genotype distribution stress the need for continued surveillance post introduction of vaccines to understand the effect of vaccines on strain evolution over a longer period and detect emergence of new genotypes.