Molecular Characterization of Circulating Rota Viral Strain causing infantile diarrhoea in Tripura, North East India

Tapan Majumdar; Ankurita Bhowmik; Apurba Sarkar; Saikat Majumder; Ayan Modak; Niladri Sekhar Das; Sanjib Kumar Debbarma; Harpreet Kaur

Abstract

Introduction: North Eastern India is geographically distinct from rest of India and the trend of Rota viral diarrhoea among children below 5 years of age group is not well studied yet. The Government of India introduced the oral rotavirus vaccine (ROTAVAC) in 2016 as part of the Universal Immunization Programme in different parts of India. Objective: (1). To determine the proportion of circulating Rotavirus strains causing acute viral gastroenteritis (AGE) among children below 5 years of age group. (2). Molecular characterization of Rotavirus genotypes. (3). Impact of vaccination on pattern of circulation of different Rotavirus genotype. Methods: Stool samples were collected between August 2016 to May 2019 and subjected to VP6 antigen detection of Group A Rotavirus by ELISA followed by genotyping by Semi-nested Polymerase Chain Reaction. The statistical analysis was done using Graph pad Prism 9. The categorical variables were distributed as proportions and the p-value was calculated by using Pearson’s chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test. p-Value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Among the diarrheal episodes of the study subjects 39.3% was positive for rotavirus. G3P(8) was the predominant genotype followed by G1P(8). These genotypes alone contributed 51.1% and 23.8% respectively among the positive cases. A relatively new genotype, G9P(4) emerged during 2018–2019 with a prevalence of 6.8% that was not noticed during 2016–2017. Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of monitoring the trend of circulating rotavirus strains, which may help in appropriate management and control of Rotaviral diarrhoea among paediatric population

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