Molecular Epidemiology of Rota Virus in Acute Diarrhea in under Five Children in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo

Background. Rotavirus infection is responsible of 20 to 70 % hospital admissions and between 6000, 000 to 2 million of deaths per year in developing countries. A number of circulating genotypes are different from one geographical zone to another compromising the possibility of having a vaccine with equal efficacy. Thus, characterizing circulating genotypes is a critical step to assist in making a vaccine with proven efficacy against all circulating rotavirus genotypes. Methods. Between 2009 and 2015, children admitted in Jason Sendwe Hospital were included in the study and stool specimen were collected and analysed by PCR. Molecular characteristics of rotavirus strains were assessed. Results. In total, 483 children were included in the study and their stool specimen were analyzed.219 of them (45.3 %) were positive for rotavirus. The median age of positive patients was seven months (Q14.5-Q310). Female patients represented 52.5 % (115/219). Genotypes were analyzed for 70 specimen out of the 219 (32 %). Predominant genotypes found were G1P [8] (18.6 % or 13/70) and G2P [6] (18.6 % or 13/70) followed by G1P [6] (8.6 % or 6/70) and G3P [6] (8.6 % or 6/70). Conclusion. The results of this study could be used for the selection of the vaccine to be used and the evaluation of its impact in Lubumbashi.