Molecular detection and prevalence of rotavirus and norovirus among patients with diarrhea under five years in South Iraq/Thi Qar province

This study was to determine the frequency of the two most important enteric viruses (Rotavirus group A and Norovirus) in stool specimens of children aged fewer than five years and their association with demographic and some parameters including age, sex, feeding type and clinical symptoms . A total of (100) one hundred fecal specimens are calm from infants and children under five years of age in Thi-Qar Province south of Iraq during Five Months ( From Febraury 2021 To June2021 ): (60) sixty stool specimens are collected from the city of Nasiriyah (including Al-Rifai Hospital ,Al-Naser Hospital,Qalatsukkar Hospital and Private Clincs ) and (40) forty stool specimens are collected from AlNasiriyah, Sayed Dakhil, Al-Shatrah, SuqAlshyuokh, Al-Garraf and Al-Batha (including 63 males and 37 females). The results of this study showed According to diarrheal causative agents revealed to that 30% are caused by Rotavirus while and 0% Norovirus and The most predominant signs for Rotavirus were diarrhea, vomiting ,fever and abdominal pain and diarrhea was (100%) higher than other signs. Frequency of male children patients with diarrhea caused by Rotavirus were higher than their female . The samples were categorized into eight groups according to the age of the children and Rotavirus infection was higher in age group (0-1) year . The highest rate of detection of Rotavirus gastroenteritis is found in Febraury (13 cases, 43.3%) and the lowest in the month June (2 cases, 6.6%). Also the results showed the percentage of infection with Rotavirus were 8 (26.7%), 13 (43.3%) and 9 (30%) were in children fed on breast feeding, bottle feeding and mixed feeding respectively. The DNA sequencing method was carried out to by RT-PCR to identification genetic relationship and genetic variation (substation Mutations) analysis in viral capsid protein VP6 gene of local Human Rotavirus isolates (IQN.No.1 - IQN.No.6) and NCBI-Blast related country Human Rotavirus isolate The phylogenetic tree genetic relationship analysis was showed that the local Human Rotavirus IQ isolates (1-10) were showed closed genetic related into NCBI BLAST Human Rotavirus India isolate (KX638635.1) at total genetic change (0.0140-0.0020%). as showed in figure (1). The homology sequence identity between local Human Rotavirus A isolates (IQN.No.1 - IQN.No.6) and NCBI BLAST related Human Rotavirus A India isolate were showed genetic homology sequence identity ranged from (99.30-99.77%). The genetic variation (substitution Mutations) analysis in viral capsid protein VP6 gene between local Human Rotavirus isolates (IQN.No.1 - IQN.No.6) and NCBI-Blast related Human Rotavirus India isolate were find one to three substitution mutations at total genetic variation percentage ranged (0.23-0.70%). As showed in table (1). And figure (1-10) , the local Human Rotavirus isolates (IQN.No.1 - IQN.No.6) were submitted into NCBI Genbank and identified by accession numbers (MZ542789 into MZ542794). Concluded, this study summerized to Rota viral infection was predominant causative agent of diahrrea in children in the studied area .