Detection and characterization of rotavirus G and P types from children with acute gastroenteritis in Qom, central Iran

The aim of the study is to estimate the burden of Rotavirus gastroenteritis as well as predominant genotypes of Rotavirus among children less than 5 years of age referring to Pediatric University Hospital in Qom, Iran. Background: Gastroenteritis is the fourth most common cause of death and accounts for 16% of all deaths in children <5 years of age worldwide. Methods: During two years, 130 patients referring to a pediatric hospital were enrolled in this study. After RNA extraction, Rotaviruses were detected by the VP6 gene. Then, G-typing (G1, G2, G3, G4, G8, G9, and G12) and P-typing (P4, P6, and P8) were performed using RT-PCR and specific primers. Results: The results of the PCR revealed that from a total of 130 patients, 22 cases (16.9%) showed positive VP6 by RT-PCR . G1 was mostly the predominant serotype (27%), accounting for 22% of all VP7-positive isolates, followed by G9 (18%), G2 (9%), G3 (9%), and G4 (9%). None of the strains revealed the presence of G8 genotype (0%), and 5 specimens (23%) were non-typable. The frequency of P typing was P8 (50%), P6 (23%), P4 (14%), and 3 samples were P-non-typable (13%), respectively. The dominant G-P combination was G1 [8] (32%). Conclusion: Such studies based on typing methods assists in the Rotavirus vaccine introduction by policymakers and design of new effective vaccines.