Molecular Characterisation and Clinical Correlates of Rotavirus in Children and Adults in a Tertiary Care Centre, Chennai, South India

Aims: This study was undertaken to determine the rate of detection of rotavirus causing diarrhoea among children and adults, identify the common genotypes circulating and determine clinical correlates. Settings and Design: This is a cross-sectional study in a tertiary care centre. Materials and Methods: Stool samples were collected from adults and children, transported on ice, aliquoted and stored at − 80°C. Rotavirus antigen detection enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed on all samples. Representative samples were typed by conventional hemi-nested VP7 and VP4 reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Statistical Analysis Used: Test of proportion, Student’s t-test and Chi-square test were used for statistical analysis. Results: A total of 444 stool samples were collected and tested over 14 months. Among these, 116 were paediatric with a rate of positivity of 36.21% and 328 were adults with rate of positivity of 20.73%. Among children under 5 years (n = 90), the rate of positivity was 41.11%. Vesikari scale was used for clinical assessment. The mean ± standard deviation Vesikari score in rotavirus-infected children and rotavirus-uninfected children was 11.2 ± 3.2 and 8.9 ± 3.6, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant. Nineteen samples were genotyped in children < 5 years, 94.7% were of G1P[8] and 5.3% were of G9P[4] genotype. Genotyping of 14 adult samples, G1P[8](85.7%) was found as the predominant genotype, two samples (14.3%) were partially typed (G9PUT and G12PUT). Conclusions: The rate of positivity of rotavirus in children under 5 years was 41.11%. G1P[8] is the most common strain circulating across all age groups.