Seasonal pattern in occurrence of rotavirus infection (RV) in diarrheic children, calves and piglets from Bareilly, India

Rapid and reliable diagnosis for diarrhoeal disease is critically important for the differentiation of etiological agents and subsequent suitable treatment modalities. The objective of the study is to reveal the seasonal pattern in the occurrence of rotavirus in diarrheic children, calves and piglets from Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India. A total of 115 diarrhoeal samples were collected, out of which 51 were collected during post-monsoon/autumn (September 2018-November 2018) and 64 during the winter season (December 2018-February 2019). The samples were collected from children <5 years (n = 50), piglets <3 months (n = 35) and calves <6 months of age (n = 30). These samples were screened by ribonucleic acid-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (RNA-PAGE) and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) by targeting the VP6 gene of rotavirus A (RVA) and the two were compared. In RNA-PAGE 29.4% (5/17), 6.3% (1/16) and 0% (0/18) samples collected from children, calves and piglets, respectively were rotavirus positive during the autumn season while 45.5% (15/33), 21.4% (3/14) and 17.7% (3/17) samples in the winter season. In RT-PCR, 41.2% (7/17), 12.5% (2/16) and 0% (0/18) samples were rotavirus positive in the autumn season while 51.5% (17/33), 28.6% (4/14) and 29.4% (5/17) samples in winter season collected from children, calves and piglets, respectively. On statistical analysis, no significant difference between the season and number of positives in children and calves (p > 0.05) was observed, however in piglets significantly higher number of RVA positives were detected in the winter season than autumn (p < 0.01). The diagnostic test comparison of RNA-PAGE and RT-PCR showed no statistically significant difference in detecting the RVA positives (p > 0.05). Overall the percent positivity showed a seasonal pattern with higher positivity in winter as compared to autumn season.

Automated summary

Rapid and reliable diagnosis of diarrhoeal disease is important for distinguishing the etiological agents and choosing suitable treatment. This study reveals a seasonal pattern in the occurrence of rotavirus in diarrheic children, calves, and piglets from Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India. The positivity rate is higher in winter compared to autumn.