Surveillance for rotavirus gastroenteritis in children less than 5 years of age in Togo

BACKGROUND:: Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe gastroenteritis and dehydration in young children in both industrialized and developing countries. The anticipated introduction of rotavirus vaccine into Togo's national immunization program highlights the need for baseline data on the burden of this disease. METHODS:: We conducted sentinel surveillance for rotavirus gastroenteritis among children <5 years of age in Sylvanus Olympio Teaching Hospital of Lome (Togo) from February 2008 through January 2012, based on the World Health Organization's generic protocol. Rotavirus was detected in stool specimens by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The strain characterization by genotyping was performed at Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research in Accra (Ghana) and at Medunsa campus in Pretoria (South Africa). RESULTS:: 803 children with acute gastroenteritis were enrolled and of which 390 (48%) were positive for rotavirus. The difference of age among children with rotavirus and nonrotavirus gastroenteritis was significant (P < 0.010) with rotavirus cases younger than nonrotavirus cases. From December to February, significantly (P < 0.002) more cases of rotavirus gastroenteritis were enrolled compared with other months of the year. Vomiting (P = 0.04) was more common in children with rotavirus than nonrotavirus gastroenteritis. The most common G-P combinations were G3P[6] (23%), G1P[8] (12%), G1P[6/8] (8%), G2P[6] (7%), G12P[6] (7%) and G3/12P[6] (6%). CONCLUSIONS:: The prevalence of rotavirus is high among children with acute gastroenteritis in Togo. Continued and extended rotavirus surveillance will be important to monitor changes in the epidemiology of rotavirus disease and the impact of vaccination after introduction.