Molecular epidemiologic study of rotavirus diarrhea among children in Luocheng County,Guangxi in 2007～2008

Objective To study the molecular epidemiology of rotavirus diarrhea in hospitalizing children in Luocheng County,Guangxi,2007-2008.Methods A hospital-based surveillance program for rotavirus was set up among children less than 5 years old with acute diarrhea in Guangxi.The clinical information and fecal specimens were collected and rotavirus was detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The positive specimens were further identified serotype and genotype by RT-PCR.Results During 2 year's surveillance 607 fecal specimens were detected.The positive rate for rotavirus were 54.29%(335/607).Among the rotavirus diarrhea cases,96.11% of cases occurred in children less than 2 years old.There was a peak of rotavirus diarrhea cases between November and February of the next year.The predominant strain was serotype G1(64.54%) and genotype P[8] was the most common strain,accounting for 67.48%.P[8]G1 combination was the most predominant circulating genotypes,other 7 uncommon P-G combinations were also identified.Conclusions Rotavirus was the major cause of acute diarrhea among children in Guangxi.The epidemiology of rotavirus in Guangxi showed the diversity and regularity of epidemic strains.So,it is necessary to conduct long term rotavirus strain surveillance in Guangxi.