Journal of Tropical Pediatrics Advance Access originally published online on March 10, 2009
Journal of Tropical Pediatrics 2009 55(5):318-323; doi:10.1093/tropej/fmp016
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Rotavirus Infections among HIV-Infected Children in Nairobi, Kenya
aEnteric Viruses Research Group, Institute of Primate Research, P. O. Box 24481, 00502, Karen, Nairobi, Kenya
bMedical Research Council (MRC), Diarrhoeal Pathogens Research Unit, MEDUNSA Campus, University of Limpopo, P.O. Box 173, MEDUNSA, 0204 Pretoria, South Africa
cKenyatta National Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, P.O. Box 20723, 00202 Nairobi, Kenya
Correspondence: Jason M. Mwenda, Enteric Viruses Research Group, Institute of Primate Research, P. O. Box 24481-00502, Karen, Nairobi, Kenya. Tel.: +254-020-882571-4; Fax: +254-020-882546. E-mail: <jmmathiu{at}yahoo.co.uk>.
| Abstract |
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Human rotaviruses have emerged as a leading cause of acute diarrhea in children <5 years of age worldwide. Although there are previous reports relating to various aspects of rotaviruses, there is limited data on the involvement of rotavirus infection in HIV-infected children. We therefore evaluated the importance of rotavirus infections in HIV-related diarrhea in Kenyan children. Fecal samples were collected from a total of 207 children during the period February 1999 to June 2000 and screened for HRV antigen by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Positive samples were analyzed by VP6 subgroup specificity assay, by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR). Fourteen percent (29/207) of the samples were positive. HIV-seropositive children with diarrhea were more likely than their counterparts without diarrhea to have rotaviruses [23.3% (10/43) versus 2.9% (2/70); p = 0.0001]. Rotavirus strain G3P[6] was predominant. These results indicate that rotavirus is an important viral etiological agent causing diarrhea in HIV-seropositive children.
Key Words: rotavirus HIV genotypes vaccine