Molecular Detection of Rotavirus Antigens in Stools of Children with Diarrhea in Khartoum State

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.