Abstract:
This study was conducted for molecular detection of rotavirus antigens in
stools of children with diarrhea in Khartoum State during the period from
February 2011 to February 2012. Stool specimens were collected from 200
children less than 5 years of age suffering from diarrhea in Gaffar Ibnoof
Specialized Children Hospital and Omdurman Pediatric Hospital. All samples
were tested for the presence of rotavirus antigens using latex agglutination
technique and then 30 selected samples were diagnosed for rotavirus group A
as the most common group by real time – polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
molecular method. The results obtained were processed and statistically
analyzed using Pearson Chi-square test. Rotavirus antigens were detected in 42
(21%) of the total samples examined. The study showed that, there was no
significant difference (p > 0.05) between male children (18%) and females
(26%) in contracting the disease. Most of the positive cases were in children
less than one year of age (57.1%) followed by 38.1% in children between 1-3
years of age. However, the children above 3 years, but less than 5 years of age
had the lowest (4.8%) rotaviral infection. Most of rotavirus cases were reported
among patients who were suffering from vomiting (85.7%) and with slightly
low frequency of fever (52.4%). Using real time-PCR molecular technique
rotavirus A were detected in 8 (40%) of the 20 positive latex agglutination
samples, while the rest samples showed no viral load (60%). However, 10
negative samples by latex agglutination technique gave equal percentage when
examined by real time PCR, Five subjects (50%) were positive and 5 (50%)
showed negative results. These differences in the results supported the
importance of the application of rapid molecular methods to clinical services in
hospital laboratories to provide definitive diagnosis.
