Journal of Tropical Pediatrics Advance Access originally published online on March 15, 2008
Journal of Tropical Pediatrics 2008 54(5):340-342; doi:10.1093/tropej/fmn021
Brief Reports |
Epidemiology of Rotavirus Infection in North-western Nigeria
aFaculty of Science, Department of Microbiology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
bFaculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
cMRC/MEDUNSA Diarhoeal Pathogens Research Unit, University of Limpopo, Medunsa Campus, Pretoria, South Africa
Correspondence: Dr M. Aminu, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. E-mail <maryamaminu{at}yahoo.com>.
| Abstract |
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Rotaviruses (RV) are associated with
33 000 deaths in children <5 years of age annually in Nigeria. However, limited data exit on RV infection in north-western Nigeria. During July 2002 to July 2004, 1063 (869 diarrhoeic and 194 control) stool samples were collected from children <5 years of age presenting with diarrhoea in north-western Nigeria. The stools were analysed for RV antigen and further characterized by antigenic and genomic methods. RV was detected in 18% of children with diarrhoea and 7.2% of the age-matched case controls. The highest RV burden was detected in children <6-months-old. Long electropherotypes and VP6 subgroup I + II specificity predominated.