Epidemiology of Rotavirus Diarrhea in Egyptian Children and Implications for Disease Control

Abstract

Reliable epidemiologic data are essential for formulating effective policy to control rotavirus disease through immunization. The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiology of rotavirus diarrhea in a population-based cohort of children under 3 years of age residing in Abu Homos, Egypt, in 1995-1996. Rotavirus diarrhea incidence rates (episodes per person-year) were 0.13 for infants aged <6 months, 0.61 for those aged 6-11 months, 0.17 for those aged 12-23 months, and 0.15 for those aged 24-35 months. Fifty-six percent of children with rotavirus diarrhea had clinical dehydration; 90% of rotavirus diarrheal episodes occurred between July and November. In infants under 1 year of age, receipt of breast milk was associated with a lower incidence of rotavirus diarrhea. No other sociodemographic or environmental factor was found to be significantly associated with rotavirus diarrhea. Of 46 rotavirus isolates with strains identified, 41 (89%) were G serotypes 1 and 2. Rotavirus diarrhea was a major cause of morbidity in this cohort. Promotion of breastfeeding may exert a protective effect in young infants in this setting, but improvements in water and sanitation are unlikely to be effective preventive measures. The use of effective immunization against rotavirus in early infancy should be considered a public health priority.

Predominance and Circulation of Enteric Viruses in the Region of Greater Cairo, Egypt

“…The ratio between G1P [8] and G2P [4] is rather unusual since G1P [8] is usually predominant. However, a study conducted in rural Egypt in 1995 and 1996 showed that G2P [4] accounted for 67% of the rotavirus-positive samples (23). It is also noteworthy that G12 was the third most common G type detected in our study.…”

“…In Egypt, diarrheal illnesses are the major causes of morbidity in children under 3 years of age (23). To date, there have been few epidemiological surveys that aimed to determine the circulation of enteric viruses in Egypt and other countries in the Middle East (11,31,36).…”

A study of infectious intestinal disease in England: risk factors associated with group A rotavirus in children

“…The results suggest that breast feeding is protective against gastro-enteritis with rotavirus. However, a protective effect of breast feeding has not been consistently found for rotavirus infections, with some population-based studies finding absent or marginal protection [14,16,22,23], whereas a community based study in Egypt found protection [17]. Our study therefore adds to the weight of evidence in favour of the protective effect of breast feeding.…”

“…Spread is believed to be faecal oral, through respiratory secretions, person-to-person contact and contaminated environmental surfaces [5]. Breast feeding is thought to confer protection against gastrointestinal pathogens, in particular bacteria [14,15], but there are conflicting results as to rotavirus infection : some authors found no protection [14,16] others have found some protection [17], and others evidence that breast feeding offers protection against severe infection only [18].…”

Comparison of the Nucleotide Sequence of Cloned Osteopontin from Hanwoo and Holstein

“…In human milk, OPN were highly expressed at both mRNA and protein levels during lactation (Nagatomo et al, 2004), and studies proposed that it might be useful in preventing rotavirus infections during lactating period (Naficy et al, 1999 …”