Session:

Virology and Viral Infections (Non-HIV)

Abstract No.:

40.004

Title:

Possible reassortment of rotaviruses in communities where humans and domestic animals live closely together in Accra, Ghana

Author(s):

P. Amoah Barnie¹, R. Harry Asmah², S. Damanka³, T. Adiku⁴; ¹UNIVERSITY OF CAPE COAST, HUMAN BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT, Cape Coast/GH, ²School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Department Medical Laboratory Sciences, Accra/GH, ³Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research., Electron Microscopy and Histopathology, Accra/GH, ⁴University of Ghana Medical School, Microbiology Department., Accra/GH

Abstract:

Background: Rotaviruses are the most common cause of severe diarrheal disease in infants and young children worldwide. In 2004, rotavirus infections were estimated to cause approximately 527 000 deaths, predominantly in developing countries including Ghana. This high morbidity and mortality associated with this disease has necessitated urgent development and introduction of rotavirus vaccine, whose efficacy will be affected by many factors including the emergence of recombinant strains of rotavirus from communities where humans and animals live in close associations. The objective of this study was to identify circulating rotavirus strains in Accra communities where humans and domestic animals live closely together.
Methods: A total of 215 stool samples were collected from both children less than five years and domestic animals living together in households from parts of Accra, Ghana. Rotavirus RNA was detected using Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (PAGE). VP4 and VP7 genotyping were performed using RT-PCR.
Results: Using PAGE analysis, three positives were detected in the samples from pigs. These samples exhibited a 4-2-3-2 migration pattern and were assigned rotavirus group A. These were all P-genotyped by RT-PCR as genotype P[6]. None of these could however be assigned a G-genotype. Thirty-five human samples were then randomly selected for RT-PCR. Out of which 16 (45.7%) were positive for rotavirus RNA. The positive human samples were typed by RT-PCR. After VP7 genotyping, 3 (19.7%) were genotypes G1, G8 and G4/G12/G9 whereas 13 (81.3%) were non-typables. During VP4 typing, 13 were typed P[4] (18.8%), P[6] (6.3%) and P[8] (25%) and 3 were P-non-typables). There were also mixed infections such as P[4/8] (18.8%), P[6/8] (6.3%) and P[4/6/8] (6.3%).
Conclusion: The identification of relatively high numbers of possible reassortant and non-typable rotavirus strains could influence the introduction of rotavirus vaccines which currently have undergone trials in Ghana and are awaiting their administration to children. There is therefore the need for further community based surveillance in addition to ongoing nationwide surveillance for rotavirus genotypes.