Prevalence of Rotavirus Infection in Infants and Young Children with Gastroenteritis in Two North-East States, Nigeria

Introduction: Rotavirus, is an eleven segmented double stranded ribonucleic acid virus in the family of Reoviridae, and is a leading cause of gastroenteritis among infants and young children.

Aims: This study was aimed at conducting a preliminary survey of rotavirus antigen in diarrheic stool of children (< 5 years) in Taraba and Yobe states in Nigeria to determine the prevalence.

Methodology: One hundred and fifty children, each, in two north east states (Taraba (TR) and Yobe (YB) Nigeria with acute diarrhea were selected by random sampling in a cross-sectional, hospital-based study. Fifty two non-diarrheic and three hundred diarrheic tool samples from children less than five years old were assayed for rotavirus antigen by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (Cortez Diagnostic Automation, Inc, USA) kit. Demographic data of the children were collected and result analysed using chi-square.

Result: All non-diarrheic stool (n=52) were negative for rotavirus antigen while of the total of 300 children sampled, overall prevalence of 4.0% and 9.3% were obtained in Taraba (mean age = 25.85months) and Yobe (mean age = 25.65months) respectively. Type of toilet used in both states was a factor in infection (TR p=0.007; YB p=0.00004). There was preponderance of infected male over female children in both states but this was not significant (p=0.55; p=0.48). Also, the source of drinking water had no significant effect on the prevalence of infection in both states (TR: p=0.177; YB: p=0.134). Playing with toys was found to serve as a predisposing factor of infection in Yobe state only (p=0.001).

Conclusion: The result of this study shows that rotavirus is a significant aetiologic agent of diarrhea among infants and young children in the study area. Public enlightenment on the predisposing factors to infection should be emphasized in order to mitigate transmission. Also, determination of the circulating genotypes in the study area is recommended.