ABSTRACT
Background: Rotavirus as a causative agent of childhood diarrhea is known to cause seriousillness among children less than 5 years of age. This study examined the epidemiology of rotavirusdisease burden and diversity of G and P genotypes of rotavirus in Nepal.Methods: Stool samples were tested for rotavirus by Enzyme Immuno Assay and Group A rotaviruseswere detected by using both ELISA and RT-PCR in 2718 samples between 2009 and 2011.Results: Rotavirus was more frequently detected among inpatients (28.5%) than outpatients(15.2%). Over the three-year study period, 653 (24.4%) cases were positive for rotavirus byELISA. Genotyping by RT-PCR was done on 638 samples. The most prevalent genotype was G12P[6] (60.4%). Mixed infections were not uncommon (14% in 2009, 29% in 2010 an 7% in 2011).However, 41 were partially typed and 23 were completely untyped over the study period.Conclusions: This study highlights the rotavirus disease burden and diversity of rotavirus strainscirculating in Nepal. Continued sentinel surveillance will provide useful information to policy makerswith regard to rotavirus vaccine introduction.