Surveillance and Molecular Characterization of Rotavirus Strains Circulating in Odisha, India after Introduction of Rotavac.

OBJECTIVE: To know the rotavirus burden associated with acute gastroenteritis along with circulating genotypes among under-five children and to find out possible associations with different demographic and clinical predictors in a tertiary care teaching hospital in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. METHODS: A prospective acute gastroenteritis surveillance conducted from February 2016 to June 2019 at a tertiary care pediatric hospital in Bhubaneswar has enrolled 850 children under five years of age. The stool samples were tested for VP6 antigen of rotavirus by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and hemi-nested multiplex PCR to find out VP7 (G type) and VP4 (P type) genes. The data was presented using mean ± SD, median (IQR) along with frequencies and percentages. RESULTS: Rotavirus positivity was found in 246 children (28.9%) with male: female ratio of 3:1. An increasing trend of rotaviral diarrheal cases was seen during the winter months. History of vomiting for 2 d, age group of 12-23 mo, and fever were significantly associated with rotavirus diarrhea having odd ratios of 1.80 (95% CI, 1.48, and 1.69, respectively). Among the genotypes, G3 and P8 were found to be most common in the present study. CONCLUSION: With the introduction of Rotavac in the state the overall rotaviral distribution has significantly changed. Children of 6-23 mo were the most affected age group in the study indicating the necessity of this vaccine in the early months of life.

Climatic Parameters and Rotavirus Diarrhea Among Hospitalized Children: A Study of Eastern India.

Background: Rotavirus diarrhea is often referred as "winter diarrheal disease" as it causes nearly 50% of the pediatric hospitalizations during winter season. This study was done with the objective of bringing out the epidemiological nexus of rotavirus cases with different seasonal parameters like maximum, minimum temperature, humidity, and average rainfall. Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted in a tertiary care teaching hospital of Eastern India from February 2016 to December 2018. Data on daily maximum and minimum temperature, relative humidity, and rainfall were collected. Result: Of 964 children admitted, 768 stool samples were collected for rotavirus assay. A total of 222 children (29%) were positive. The maximum, minimum temperature, average rainfall, and average humidity of 83.4 mm, 79.2%, 28.1, and 21.9, respectively, were significantly associated with positive rotaviral cases. Conclusions: The incidence of rotavirus positivity cases was found to be inversely associated with average temperature, humidity, and rainfall. The knowledge about the seasonal pattern in a particular geographical area would help in the reallocation of hospital services (staff and bed) to tackle the epidemic or emergency situations resulting from clustering of cases.