Characterization And Genotyping Of Rotaviruses From Communities In Akuse District And Its Environs

ABSTRACT Background: Rotaviruses are recognised world-wide as the principal aetiological agents of severe neonatal diarrhoea in a number of species, including man and domestic animals. Eight species of this virus have been detected and classified as A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H. Human beings are predominantly infected by species A, B and C, but A–E species cause disease in other animals. Studies in Ghana have reported new emerging strains of the virus in paediatric diarrheal cases some of which have been identified as animal genotype whilst others have been identified as re-assorted variants resulting from both human and animal rotavirus strains. Investigations have proven that close co-living of humans and animals may have resulted in such interspecies infections due to recombination of the human and the animal variants of the rotaviruses, by close contact with animal faecal material. Uncommon genotypes also contribute to the rotavirus associated diarrhoeal infection and could reduce the effectiveness of the vaccines in use and hence vaccinated individuals may not benefit. Aim: To characterize as well as determine genotypic variations in rotavirus isolates from humans and animals living in close association in communities in Akuse and its environs. Methods: Stool samples collected from households in which humans and animals live in close association in Akuse and its environs were subjected to PAGE analysis and RNA from the stool samples were analysed by SDS-PAGE and RT PCR to determine genotypes circulating in the communities. Results: In this study, samples were taken from 22 households in Akuse and its environs for rotavirus characterisation and genotyping. Out of the 22 households in this study, 7 (31.8%) were characterised by PAGE as positive to rotaviruses A or B, or C pherotype. In households characterised by PAGE as positives, genotype G8 was confirmed in 4 iv (57.1%) while both genotype G8 and G10 were confirmed in only 1 (14.3%) of the households. The amplicons for nest 1 did not genotype with the set of primers available in 3 (42.9%) of the households characterised by PAGE as positives. Among the households characterised by PAGE as positive, pherotypes A, and C were found in 6 (85.7%) and 1 (14.3%) households, respectively, while both pherotype A and B were found in 1 (14.3%) household. Majority of positives were found in humans. Conclusion: This study has identified possible reassortant strains of rotaviruses G8 and G10 characteristically of bovine origin in humans from the Akuse district and its environs.