High prevalence of DS-1-like rotavirus infection in Thai adults between 2016 and 2019

PLoS One. 2020 Jun 25;15(6):e0235280. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0235280. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Rotavirus infection is the most common cause of viral diarrhea in infants and young children but uncommon and usually asymptomatic in adults. In the winter of 2017-2018, a large-scale outbreak of rotavirus in both children and adults was reported in Thailand. The current study focused on the prevalence, genotyping, and molecular characterization of rotavirus infections in Thai adults from July 2016 to December 2019. In 2,598 stool samples collected from adult residents of Bangkok (aged #x2265; 15 years) with acute gastroenteritis, rotavirus was detected via real-time RT-PCR analysis of the VP6 gene. G, P and I genotypes were determined by direct sequencing of VP7, VP4, and VP6 genes, respectively. Our results showed 8.7% (226/2,598) of stool samples were positive for rotavirus. The incidence of rotavirus was high during the winter season of 2017-2018 (17.7%) compared to another studied periods (4.5% between July 2016- October 2017 and 2.8% between March 2018- December 2019). Nucleotide sequencing of VP7 and VP4 revealed G3P[8] as the predominant strain (33.2%,75/226), followed by G9P[8] (17.3%,39/226), and G2P[4] (15.0%,34/226). Uncommon G and P combinations were additionally detected at low frequencies. VP6 sequencing was conducted to discriminate I genotype between the Wa and DS-1 genogroup. The unusual DS-1-like G3P[8] strain was most prevalent amomg rotavirus strains detected in this study (29.6%, 67/226), and the corresponding VP7 sequences showed high nucleotide identity with unusual DS-1-like globally circulating strains. Our study demonstrates that rotavirus outbreaks in adults are attributable not only to high prevalence of RV infection but also the unusual DS-like genogroup. The collective findings reinforce the importance of investigating rotavirus diagnosis in adults suffering from acute gastroenteritis and taking appropriate preventive measures.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antigens, Viral / classification
  • Antigens, Viral / genetics
  • Capsid Proteins / classification
  • Capsid Proteins / genetics
  • Feces / virology
  • Female
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Phylogeny
  • Prevalence
  • RNA, Viral / chemistry
  • RNA, Viral / metabolism
  • Rotavirus / classification
  • Rotavirus / genetics*
  • Rotavirus / isolation & purification
  • Rotavirus Infections / diagnosis*
  • Rotavirus Infections / epidemiology
  • Rotavirus Infections / virology
  • Thailand / epidemiology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antigens, Viral
  • Capsid Proteins
  • RNA, Viral
  • VP4 protein, Rotavirus
  • VP6 protein, Rotavirus
  • VP7 protein, Rotavirus

Grants and funding

Yong Poovorawan; P-15-50004, The Research Chair Grant from the National Science and Technology Development Agency Yong Poovorawan; GCE 59-009-30-005, The Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Chulalongkorn University Jira Chansaenroj; Rachadapisek Sompote Fund for Postdoctoral Fellowship, Chulalongkorn University The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.