Temporal distribution of gastroenteritis viruses in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso: seasonality of rotavirus

Abstract

BackgroundAcute gastroenteritis is one of the most common diseases among children and adults, and continues to cause a major problem of public health in Burkina Faso. The temporal pattern of rotavirus, norovirus, sapovirus, astrovirus, adenovirus and Aichivirus A was studied by examining prevalence of gastroenteritis viruses in association with meteorological variables in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.MethodsStool samples from 263 children under 5 years of age and 170 older children patients, adolescent and adults with gastroenteritis were collected in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso from November 2011 to September 2012. Enteric viruses were detected using real-time or end-point (RT-) PCR. Temperature, humidity and monthly rainfall were recorded from the National Meteorological Direction. Categorical data were compared by Chi-square tests and the effect of weather variables and monthly prevalence were analyzed using Pearson Correlation Coefficient test.ResultsThe prevalence of rotavirus infections was significantly higher in the dry season (Season S1) compared to the wet season (season S2) (p = 0.03) among the population of children under 5 years of age. No statistically significant difference was observed regarding other gastroenteritis viruses comparing the dry season and the wet season. Positive cases of rotavirus, norovirus, adenovirus and sapovirus in children under 5 years of age were correlated with temperature (r = −0.68, p = 0.01; r = −0.74, p < 0.001; r = −0.68, p = 0.01; r = −0.65, p = 0.02, respectively) and only rotavirus, adenovirus and astrovirus were correlated with relative humidity (r = −0.61, p = 0.04; r = −0.54, p = 0.08; r = −0.51, p = 0.1 respectively). No correlation was observed with rainfall. In older children, adolescent and adults patients, rotavirus and norovirus correlated with relative humidity (r = −0.58, p = 0.05; r = 0.54, p = 0.08 respectively), but, no correlation was observed between the temperature and the rainfall.ConclusionThis study extends knowledge on the monthly fluctuations on the prevalence of viral gastroenteritis. These results can provide valuable information necessary to alert health care providers when a period of infection in the community is likely to occur. The transmission of these viruses in Burkina Faso could depends on multiple factors including climatic variables.

Prevalence and clinical profile of rotavirus A infection among diarrhoeal children and phylogenetic analysis with vaccine strains in Chengdu, West China, 2009–2014

“…RVA was detected throughout the year and followed a seasonal distribution, similar to previous reports in which peaks were observed in the winter months . Nafissatou et al .…”

“…RVA was detected throughout the year and followed a seasonal distribution, similar to previous reports in which peaks were observed in the winter months [29][30][31] 5 years of age were correlated with temperature (r = À0.68, P = 0.01) [32], and our study also found a negative correlation between RVA-positive rate and temperature. As the total positive rate of acute gastroenteritis viruses had no correlation with temperature, it could not be the bacteria-induced food poisoning in summers that raised the total number of included diarrhoea outpatients which resulted in lower RVA-positive rates in winters.…”

Rotavirus and norovirus in children with severe diarrhea in Burkina Faso before rotavirus vaccine introduction

“…Similar observations regarding early RVA infections have been made in several other African countries and suggest a benefit of early schedule for RVA vaccination. Both RVA and NoV were detected predominantly during the winter season (December‐March), but with NoV peaking somewhat later (March; compared with January for RVA), similar to what has been described elsewhere …”

“…Several previous studies in Burkina Faso have shown RVA to be the predominant cause of severe childhood diarrhea, with detection rates ranging between 30% and 50% . In Burkina Faso, RVA gastroenteritis further has a marked seasonality with the vast majority of RVA diarrhea occurring in the dry cold period (December‐February), with NoV seasonality being less pronounced . Only few studies have investigated NoV in pediatric diarrhea in Burkina Faso (mild to severe), with detection rates of 12% to 21% …”

Probiotic use in acute viral gastroenteritis: Is it really effective?

“…Acute diarrhea in childhood is the second most common cause of high morbidity and mortality and occurs mostly due to viral agents [1][2][3][4]. The most common viral agents are the association of rotavirus, adenovirus, and rotavirus-adenovirus [5][6].…”