ROTAVIRUS AND ADENOVIRUS IN CHILDREN WITH ACUTE GASTROENTERITIS AND THE MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY OF ROTAVIRUS

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of the rotavirus and adenovirus related to the viral etiology of gastroenteritis as well as to determine the frequency of common rotavirus genotypes. Material and Method: Fecal samples were obtained from 492 children under 6 years of age who had not been vaccinated with the rotavirus vaccine and who applied to the pediatric outpatient clinic of Afyon Kocatepe University Hospital with the complaint of diarrhea. All of the fecal samples were evaluated in order to determine the presence of bacterial and parasitic agents using conventional identification methods, all results were negative. Rotavirus and adenovirus antigens were examined in stool samples using the immunochromatographic method. Rotavirus G and P genotypes were determined by reverse transcription PCR using consensus primers detecting the VP7 and VP4 genes, followed by semi-nested type-specific multiplex PCR. Results: It was found that 3.3%, and 20.3% of 492 children with acute gastroenteritis were positive for adenovirus and rotavirus, respectively. A total of six different combinations of G and P types were found, including combinations of the G1, G2, G4, G9, P[4], and P[8] genotypes. The most common rotavirus genotypes were G9P[8] (48.7%), followed by G9P[4] (17.5%). Other strains were G1P[8] (16.2%), G2P[8] (11.2%), G1P[4] (3.7%), and G4P[8] (2.5%). Sixty-six percent of the regional rotavirus genotypes were G9P[8] and G9P[4]. Conclusion: Regarding the high frequency of rotavirus infection, continuous monitoring is needed in gastroenteritis prevention programs for treatment and to provide information about the occurrence of new rotavirus strains.