Epidemiology and Genetic Diversity of Rotavirus in Kunming, China, in 2015

Group A rotavirus (RVA) is a serious public problem in China, with a prevalence of 29.7% in diarrhea cases under 5 years of age. A total of 1,224 fecal specimens were collected in 2015 from children under 5 years of age with acute gastroenteritis in Kunming, China, for detection and characterization of rotavirus. The prevalence of RVA was 28.5%. The frequency of RVA detection was greatest (52%) among children aged 7–12 months. The following strains were the most common types: G9P(8) (58.2%), G3P(8) (14.9%), and G1P(8) (6.9%). The following strains were uncommon types: G3P(4), G8P(9), and G9P(4) (1.1%); G1P(4), G2P(8), and G4P(8) (0.9%); G2P(6), G3P(9), G4P(6), and G9P(6) (0.6%); and G4P(4) (0.3%). G3G1P(8) (5.2%), G1G2P(4) (0.9%), G1G9P(8) (0.6%), and G2P(4)P(8) (0.3%) were mixed types. This study documents the molecular epidemiology, genetics, and diversity of rotavirus strains in children under 5 years of age in Kunming, China, and suggests that it may be important to offer RVA vaccination and scientific evidence to stop and control RVA-related diarrhea.