Abstract:

It has been reported that enteric viruses (particularly Rotavirus, Norovirus and Adenovirus) are the most common reasons of the nonbacterial acute gastroenteritis. The aim of this study is to examine the frequency of viruses which can lead to acute gastroenteritis in children living in Afyonkarahisar province and to determine the Rotavirus genotypes in order to contribute to vaccine policies. This study was performed on samples to determine the viruses that cause gastroenteritis in Afyonkarahisar between January-December 2009. 150 fecal samples from children under 6 years of age (mean age 2.18 ± 1.64 years), negative for the presence of pathogenic bacteria by standard culture methods were tested by immunochromotographic assay for Rotavirus/Adenovirus, ELISA for Norovirus and reverse transcriptase  PCR (RT PCR) for Rotavirus. Rotaviruses G and P genotypes determined by two step RT-PCR with using consensus primers. Then PCR products visualized with agarose gel electrophoresis and subtypes were identified. Rotavirus was detected positive by immunochromotographic assay in 40% of 150 children (<6 years of age); Norovirus was detected positive by ELISA in 22.8% of 92 children and Rotavirus was detected positive by RT PCR in 15.8% of 95 children admitted to hospital suffering from gastroenteritis. Adenovirus was found positive 6 of 122 fecal samples (4.91%). Furthermore Adenovirus-Rotavirus and Rotavirus-Norovirus detected positive one and four samples, respectively. The most common combinations of G and P; G9P[8] [52%), G1P[8] (18%), G9P[4] (13%) and others G1P[4], G2P[8], G4P[8], G2P[4], G1G9P[4], G10P[8], G2G9P[8], G4P[4]) (13%), respectively. In this study, it was determined that most frequently observed viral factors for viral gastroenteritis were respectively Rotavirus, Norovirus and Adenovirus. Primarily Rotavirus and then Norovirus detection should be performed in children who have diarrhea and who are vomiting during the winter period. Rotavirus genotypes which can be determined in this and similar studies are very important due to their contribution to vaccine application policies.

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