Rotavirus Genomics of African Stool Samples. Rotavirus

Rotaviruses are a major cause of pediatric diarrheal diseases, particularly in children in developing countries where rotavirus infections can lead to severe disease and even death. This study uses next generation sequencing technologies to evaluate the rotavirus sequence diversity that exists in sub-Saharan Africa. Approximately 300 archival stool samples collected between 1998 and 2010 from children less than 5 years of age were selected for this analysis. Samples spanned the period before and after the introduction of rotavirus vaccination programs in some of the sampled countries, allowing for the evaluation of possible vaccination effects on the evolution and diversity of rotavirus. Since gene reassortment is known to occur among human and domestic animal rotaviruses, stool samples from domestic animals (e.g., chickens and cows) were also sequenced to assess their diversity and evolutionary relationships with human rotaviruses from the same geographic location. Data generated from this study may aid in the development of future vaccines and diagnostic tests. This study was part of a larger project that aimed to better understand enteric community relationships among rotaviruses, other diarrheal pathogens, and commensal microbiota.