Co-circulation of G1, G2 and G9 rotaviruses in hospitalized patients in Bangladesh during 2006-2009.

Rotavirus strain diversity in Bangladesh has been explored since 1985 and as seen in other parts of the world, rotaviruses have shown tremendous strain diversity overtime. Rotavirus antigen was detected in stool specimens using a solid-phase sandwich-type enzyme immunoassay. A multiplex reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed for rotavirus G and P genotypes. This current study was carried out between 2006 and 2009 during which time 1,607 (23%) of 7,058 fecal specimens tested positive for group A rotaviruses with the highest incidence rate being observed in winter each year. Genotyping of rotaviruses showed a sharp decline in G2P[4] between 2008 and 2009 with a gradual increase in G1 and G9 strains. Since the Government of Bangladesh is planning to include rotavirus vaccine in the national immunization program, these data on rotavirus strain diversity should be taken into consideration for vaccine strain selection.