Detection of Rotavirus Genotypes with conventional PcR in a Group of iraqi children with Acute Viral Gastroenteritis

Rotaviruses are one of the major causes of acute viral gastroenteritis in children under 5 years old worldwide, the highest mortality is observed in developing countries. The genome of the rotavirus is composed of 11 segments of ds RNA, according to the antigenic characteristics of the middle layer protein VP6 the virus can be classified into A to I serogroups, the most common serogroup that can cause more than 90% of the rotavirus infections in human is the rotavirus A. This study aimed to detect the rotavirus genotypes in the children with acute viral gastroenteritis as this disease causes many deaths and cost the country a lot of money for treatment, additionally if the diagnosis of the virus is early the disease will be under control. Methodology: This study was conducted during March to September 2017; included 200 stool samples collected from hospitalized children. Samples were of two groups, 150 sample of patient with acute viral gastroenteritis, the other 50 samples were collected from healthy children also under 5 years old. The result considered positive if ELISA and/or PCR gave positive result, while considered negative if both of them gave negative result. Findings: The incidence of the rotavirus in the patient group was (70/150) while only two cases (2/50) of the control group showed positive result, the most prevalence serotype was G2P4 with (40/150) in the patient group, additionally this serotype was the only serotype that was detected in control group in both two cases that showed positive result with rotavirus. Conclusion: Rotavirus genotyping is a major risk factor of viral gastroenteritis in children as the percentage of the virus was high. Recommendation: Prophylaxis and treatment of children under 5 years old is very important especially for children that attend hospitals.