Detection and Genotypic Characterisation of Rotavirus from Piglets and In-Contact Children of Assam, a North-Eastern State of India

Rotavirus (RV) has been established as the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis among human infants and the neonates of most farm animal species throughout the world. In this study, a total of 409 faecal/stool samples from porcine (0–8 months) and in-contact children (8 months–5 years) were screened for RV by ribonucleic acid-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (RNA-PAGE) and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) targeting VP7 and VP4 gene individually. Irrespective of species, a total of 120 (29.33%) were found positive for group A rotavirus RVA consisting of 65 (29.28%) from piglets and 55 (29.41%) from in-contact children, forming a typical 4:2:3:2 band pattern in RNA-PAGE. All the RNA-PAGE-positive samples were also confirmed by RT-PCR. G and P typing were done targeting VP7 and VP4 gene in nested-multiplex PCR where G3P[6], G3P[7], G9P[6], G9P[7] genotypes in porcine and G1P[6], G1P[8], G9P[6], G9P[8] genotypes in humans were encountered. The close interaction among piglets and in-contact children appeared to facilitate inter-species transmission of RV. Isolation of porcine RV genotype G3 from human samples indicated the zoonotic importance of RV. The most common genotypes found circulating were G9P[6] in porcine and G1P[8] in human population.