Chouikha A, Fodha I, Noomen S, Bouzid L, Mastouri M, Peenze I, De Beer M, Dewar J, Geyer A, Sfar T, Gueddiche N, Messaadi F, Trabelsi A, Boujaafar N, Steele A D
Laboratory MDT-01, Faculty of Pharmacy, Monastir, Tunisia.
J Med Virol. 2007 Jul;79(7):1002-8. doi: 10.1002/jmv.20919.
An epidemiological survey investigating rotavirus infections in children was undertaken in the Eastern Center of Tunisia between January 1995 and December 2004. A total of 982 faecal specimens collected from children less than 5 years in age were screened by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or latex agglutination assay for the presence of group A rotavirus antigen. Rotavirus-positive samples were used for G and P typing by multiplex semi-nested reverse transcription-PCR. Rotaviruses were detected in 22% (n = 220) of stools. Of these, 164 were typed for VP7: G genotypes found were G1 (59%), G2 (2%), G3 (9%), G4 (10%), G8 (1%), and G9 (1%). Sixteen specimens (9%) showed mixed G profiles. A total of 119 specimens were typed for VP4. P genotypes detected were P[8] (32%), P[6] (15%), and P[4] (13%). Mixed P profiles were also detected (6%). Although the distribution of the detected genotypes appeared to change annually, G1P[8] rotavirus strains always predominated during the 10-year period of study. This is the first report of rotaviruses in Tunisia with unconventional VP7 serotypes such as G8 and G9, highlighting the need for continual surveillance of emerging strains in Northern Africa. Indeed, the new commercial vaccines only contain the VP7 genes that dictate G1 or G1 to G4 specificities. These vaccines may protect less well against unusual strains circulating in countries planning to implement a rotavirus vaccine strategy.
1995年1月至2004年12月期间，在突尼斯东部中心地区开展了一项关于儿童轮状病毒感染的流行病学调查。通过酶联免疫吸附测定（ELISA）或乳胶凝集试验，对从5岁以下儿童收集的982份粪便标本进行筛查，以检测A组轮状病毒抗原的存在。轮状病毒阳性样本用于通过多重半巢式逆转录PCR进行G和P分型。在22%（n = 220）的粪便中检测到轮状病毒。其中，164份进行了VP7分型：发现的G基因型为G1（59%）、G2（2%）、G3（9%）、G4（10%）、G8（1%）和G9（1%）。16份标本（9%）显示出混合G谱型。共有119份标本进行了VP4分型。检测到的P基因型为P[8]（32%）、P[6]（15%）和P[4]（13%）。也检测到了混合P谱型（6%）。尽管检测到的基因型分布似乎每年都在变化，但在为期10年的研究期间，G1P[8]轮状病毒株始终占主导地位。这是突尼斯首次报告具有G8和G9等非常规VP7血清型的轮状病毒，凸显了在北非持续监测新出现毒株的必要性。事实上，新的商业疫苗仅包含决定G1或G1至G4特异性的VP7基因。这些疫苗对计划实施轮状病毒疫苗策略的国家中传播的异常毒株的保护效果可能较差。
