Identification of Rotavirus Strains Causing Diarrhoea in Children under Five Years of Age in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

BACKGROUND: Rotavirus is an important cause of severe diarrhoea in children. The aims of this study were to identify the rotavirus strains that cause diarrhoea in children in Yogyakarta and to determine the association between rotavirus positivity and its clinical manifestations.

METHODS: Clinical data and stool samples were collected from children hospitalised at Kodya Yogyakarta Hospital, Indonesia. Rotavirus was detected in stool samples using an enzyme immunoassay (EIA), which was followed by genotyping using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Electropherotyping was performed for the rotavirus-positive samples.

RESULTS: In total, 104 cases were included in the study, 57 (54.8%) of which were rotavirus-positive. Based on a multiple logistic regression analysis, age group, vomiting and stool mucous were associated with rotavirus positivity. Most of the 56 samples subjected to genotyping were classified as G1 (80.36%) and P[8] (69.64%) genotypes. The genotype combination G1P[8] was identified as the most prevalent strain (66.07%). Of the 19 samples subjected to electropherotyping, 17 G1 isolates and 1 G3 isolate had long patterns, and 1 G1 isolate had a short pattern.

CONCLUSION: G1P[8] was the most dominant strain of rotavirus causing diarrhoea in children in Yogyakarta. Age group, vomiting and stool mucous were associated with rotavirus positivity.