Rotavirus in diarrheal children in rural Burkina Faso: High prevalence of genotype G6P[6]

• Published in: Infection, genetics and evolution genetics and evolution, 2012-12, Vol.12 (8), p.1892-1898
• Main Authors: Nordgren, Johan, Bonkoungou, Isidore Juste O., Nitiema, Leon W., Sharma, Sumit, Ouermi, Djeneba, Simpore, Jacques, Barro, Nicolas, Svensson, Lennart
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antigens, Viral - genetics; Biological and medical sciences; Burkina Faso - epidemiology; Capsid Proteins - genetics; Child, Preschool; Children; Cluster Analysis; Diarrhea - epidemiology; Diarrhea - virology; epidemiology; Epidemiology. Vaccinations; Feces - virology; G6P; Gastroenteritis; Gastroenteritis - epidemiology; Gastroenteritis - virology; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; General aspects; genes; genetic variation; Genotype; Genotypes; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infant; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; MEDICIN; MEDICINE; Molecular Sequence Data; Other diseases. Semiology; Phylogeny; polymerase chain reaction; Prevalence; RNA, Viral - analysis; RNA, Viral - genetics; Rotavirus; Rotavirus - classification; Rotavirus - genetics; Rotavirus - isolation & purification; Rotavirus A; Rotavirus Infections - epidemiology; Rotavirus Infections - virology; Rural areas; Rural Population; Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus; vaccines; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the digestive system
• ISSN: 1567-1348; 1567-7257; 1567-7257
• DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2012.08.014

► Few studies have characterized rotavirus in rural areas of Africa. ► Our results showed high prevalence of unusual G6P[6] genotype in rural areas of Burkina Faso. ► Sequencing of VP4 and VP7 genes demonstrated high diversity within the P-genotypes. ► Detection of a rare G8P[6] genotype for the first time in Burkina Faso. ► The emergence and high prevalence unusual RV strains could have implications for vaccine efficacy. Group A rotavirus (RVA) is the most common cause of severe gastroenteritis in young children globally, and responsible for a significant number of deaths in African countries. While vaccines are available, trials have shown a lesser efficacy in Africa. One of the reasons could be the prevalence and/or emergence of unusual or novel RVA strains, as many strains detected in African countries remain uncharacterized. In this study, we characterized RVA positive specimens from two remote rural areas in Burkina Faso, West Africa. In total 56 RVA positive specimens were subgrouped by their VP6 gene, and G-and P typed by PCR and/or sequencing of the VP7 and VP4 genes, respectively. Notably, we found a high prevalence of the unusual G6P[6]SGI strains (23%). It was the second most common constellation after G9P[8]SGII (32%); and followed by G1P[8]SGII (20%) and G2P[4]SGI (9%). We also detected a G8P[6]SGI strain, for the first time in Burkina Faso. The intra-genetic diversity was high for the VP4 gene with two subclusters within the P[8] genotype and three subclusters within the P[6] genotype which were each associated with a specific G-type, thereby suggesting a genetic linkage. The G6P[6]SGI and other SGI RVA strains infected younger children as compared to SGII strains (p