[Epidemiological features of rotaviral, bacterial, and parasitic infections among hospitalized children in Jahrom [2006-2007]]

Rotavirus is one of the most common cause of diarrhea and one of the major causes of severe gastroenteritis in very young children. To follow up and genotype the agents of rotavirus infection as well as assessing the bacterial and parasitic organisms among hospitalized children with gastroenteritis in the city of Jahrom, Iran. This cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out during October 2006 to October 2007. A total of 163 stool samples from hospitalized children less than 5 years old with severe diarrhea were collected from two hospitals in Jahrom. Culture, microscopy, EIA, and RT-PCR were used for detection of bacterial, parasitic and rotaviral agents. Data were analyzed using SPSS 14 and descriptive statistics including chi-square test, ANOVA, and Fisher exact test. A p value less than 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Of total samples, 46.02% were positive for group A rotavirus by EIA. The predominant genotypes were G[1] [17.33%], G[4] [30.66%], and nontypable [30.66%]. Also, E.coli, Shigella spp., Shigella spp. + E.coli, E.coli + rotavirus, Salmonella spp., E. histolytica/E.Dispar, and other infectious agents were identified in 7.97%, 17.18%, 1.83%, 15.20%, 3.66%, 10.84%, and 6.28% of cases, respectively. According, to the data obtained from the present study, rotavirus infections in Jahrom mostly occur within the cold months of the year, epidemiologically

[Molecular and serological characterization of group A rotavirus isolates obtained from hospitalized children in Jahrom]

Rotaviruses are the most common factors causing gastroenteritis in children. Considering the high rate of mortality in developing countries, WHO proposed hospital based surveillance in order to identify the prevalent genotype profile. This study was conducted to determine the prevalent genotypes of Rotavirus by RT-PCR method in hospitalized children in Jahrom city. In this study, 163 stool samples were collected from children [<5 years old] with sever diarrhea who were hospitalized in two hospitals in Jahrom city during 2005-2006. At first, group A rotavirus were distinguished by Enzyme Immunoassay [EIA] test and then the genotypes of positive samples were determined using 9 specific primers by Nested RT-PCR method. From the total of 163 collected samples, 75 samples were positive by ELISA. The frequency of G1,G2,G3,G4,G9 and the mix genotypes were 17.33%, 13.34%, 2.67%, 30.66%, 2.67% and 2.67%, respectively. The most common prevalence of positive rotavirus was observed in winter with 22.69% compared to the least prevalence in summer with 4.29% [P<0.05]. Considering the high prevalence of positive rotavirus in studied population and also prevalence of rare genotypes, we suggest a broader research in other parts of the country