Gikonyo, Joshua Ndung'uMbatia, BettyOkanya, Patrick W.Obiero, George F. O.Sang, CarleneSteele, DuncanNyangao, James2024-07-032020-11Gikonyo, J. N. U., Mbatia, B., Okanya, P. W., Obiero, G. F., Sang, C., Steele, D., & Nyangao, J. (2020). Post-vaccine rotavirus genotype distribution in Nairobi County, Kenya. International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 100, 434-440.1878-3511https://www.ijidonline.com/action/showPdf?pii=S1201-9712%2820%2930719-0https://repository.nrf.go.ke/handle/123456789/1081BACKGROUND: Rotaviruses are primary etiological agents of gastroenteritis in young children. In Kenya, G1P8 monovalent vaccine (Rotarix) was introduced in July 2014 for mandatory vaccination of all newborns at 6 and 10 weeks of age. Since then, no studies have been done to identify the rotavirus genotypes circulating in Nairobi County, Kenya, following the vaccine introduction, hence the post-vaccine genotype distribution is not known.OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the post-vaccine occurrence of rotavirus genotypes in children <5 years of age in Nairobi County, Kenya.METHODS: Stool samples were collected from children presenting with diarrhea for whom the vaccination status was card-confirmed. Fecal samples were analyzed for rotavirus antigen using a commercial enzyme immunoassay (EIA) kit, followed by characterization by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, RT-PCR, and nested PCR genotyping, targeting the most medically important genotypes.RESULTS: The strains observed included G1P[8] (38.8%), G9P[8] (20.4%), G2P[4] (12.2%), G3[P4] (6.1%), G2P[6] (4.1%), and G9P[6] (4.1%). Mixed genotype constellations G3P[4][8] were also detected (4.1%). Remarkably, an increased prevalence of G2 genotypes was observed, revealing a change in genetic diversity of rotavirus strains. While the dominance of G1P[8] decreased after vaccination, an upsurge in G2P[4] (12.2%) and G9P[8] (20.4%) was observed. Additionally, G3[P4] (6.1%) and G2P[6] (4.1%) prevalence increased over the 3 years of study.CONCLUSIONS: The results inform the need for robust longitudinal surveillance and epidemiological studies to assess the long-term interaction between rotavirus vaccine and strain ecology.enGastroenteritisGenotypesRotarixRotavirusVaccine.Article