Norovirus and rotavirus infections in children less than five years of age hospitalized with acute gastroenteritis in Indonesia

• DOI: 10.1007/s00705-019-04215-y
• Publication Date: 2019-03-18T16:03:53Z
• Authors: Hera Nirwati; Celeste M. Donato; Yuli Mawarti; Nenny S. Mulyani; Aqsa Ikram; Abu T. Aman; Maikel P. Peppele...; Yati Soenarto; Qiuwei Pan; Mohamad S. Hakim
• Keywords: Male; Rotavirus; 0303 health sciences; Genotyping Techniques; Sequence Analysis, RNA; Norovirus; EMC MM-04-20-01; Infant; Rotavirus Infections; Gastroenteritis; 3. Good health; Hospitalization; Feces; 03 medical and health sciences; Indonesia; Child, Preschool; Humans; Female; Phylogeny; Caliciviridae Infections

Rotaviruses and noroviruses are the most important viral causes of acute gastroenteritis in children. While previous studies of acute gastroenteritis in Indonesia mainly focused on rotavirus, here, we investigated the burden and epidemiology of norovirus and rotavirus disease. Children less than five years of age hospitalized with acute gastroenteritis were enrolled in this study from January to December 2015 at three participating hospitals. Rotavirus was detected by enzyme immunoassay (EIA), followed by genotyping by reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR). Norovirus genogroups were determined by TaqMan-based quantitative RT-PCR. Among 406 enrolled children, 75 (18.47%), 223 (54.93%) and 29 (7.14%) cases were positive for norovirus, rotavirus and both viruses (mixed infections), respectively. Most cases clinically presented with fever, diarrhea, vomiting and some degree of dehydration. The majority (n = 69/75 [92%]) of the noroviruses identified belonged to genogroup II, and several genotypes were identified by sequencing a subset of samples. Among 35 samples tested for rotavirus genotype, the most prevalent genotype was G3P[8] (n = 30/35 [85.6%]). Our study suggests that the burden of norovirus diseases in Indonesian children should not be underestimated. It also shows the emergence of rotavirus genotype G3P[8] in Indonesia.