Distribution of group a Rotavirus circulating in Mashhad, Iran

Kiana Ketabi; Zahra Meshkat; Hoorieh Soleimanjahi; Ali Teimoori; Hamid Tanzadepanah; Faezeh Bakhshi

doi:10.18502/ijm.v15i6.14160

Kiana Ketabi Department of Virology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
Zahra Meshkat Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Hoorieh Soleimanjahi Department of Virology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
Ali Teimoori Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
Hamid Tanzadepanah Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran2Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Faezeh Bakhshi Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Varastegan Institute for Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijm.v15i6.14160

Keywords: Rotavirus; Children; Prevalence; Epidemiology; Diarrhea

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Group A Rotavirus (RVA) is the most important causative agent of acute diarrheal disease in pediatrics 5 years and below. This study aimed to determine the distribution of circulating RVA in Mashhad, Iran to develop health improvement strategies and vaccine decision making.

Materials and Methods: A total of 106 fecal specimens were collected from children admitted to Akbar and Dr. Sheikh referral pediatric hospitals of Mashhad City during the December 2020 to March 2021 and December 2021 to March 2022. All specimens were tested for specific bacterial, parasitic, and amoebic infections. Negative samples were analyzed for RVA infections using the RT-PCR method.

Results: RVA was detected in 31.3% of the specimens, indicating no statistical significance in gender distribution or between fall and winter positivity rates. The number of RVA–positive specimens increased following age increasing in the range of 1 to 60 months.

Conclusion: Today, acute diarrheal disease (ADD) is still caused mostly by Rotavirus infections in pediatrics in Mashhad. Comprehensive studies are needed to determine the genetic diversity of circulating Rotavirus strains in this era.