ROTAVIRUS INFECTION IN CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH ACUTE GASTROENTERITIS IN THAILAND

Abstract. Rotaviruses are the most important cause of severe diarrhea in infants and young children, but rotavirus gastroenteritis in adults is uncommon. In this study, 260 stool samples collected in Thailand from January 2006 to February 2007 from patients of all ages with acute gastroenteritis, were tested for group A rotavirus and compared with rotavirus infections in children and adults. Rotavirus was detected in 42% of the patients' samples, but children (< 18 years old) have a significantly higher prevalence (57%) of rotavirus infection than adults (≥ 18 years old) (27%) (OR 3.55; 95% CI: 2.11-5.96; p < 0.001). The highest attack rate was found in the age group of < 2 years old (14%), followed by 2-4 years of age (9%), 18-59 years of age (8%), 5-17 years of age (6%) and ≥ 60 years of age (5%). The dominant genotype was G1P Rotaviruses G3, G9, and P[4] were found only in children and genotype P[6] was found in adults (75%) at a higher frequency than in children (25%) (p < 0.001). The number of rotavirus in children was 1.99x10 8 /ml and in adult patients was 7.32x10 6 / ml. The present study highlights the higher prevalence of rotavirus infection in children compared to adults and rotavirus genetic heterogeneity