Rotavirus and norovirus infections in children in Sana’a, Yemen

OBJECTIVES: To describe the epidemiology of rotavirus and norovirus infection among children with acute gastroenteritis in Sana'a, Yemen. METHODS: A cross-sectional study from November 2007 to March 2009 of children aged 1 month to 5 years attending the emergency and outpatient departments of two hospitals in Sana'a with acute gastroenteritis. Rotavirus was detected by ELISA and genotyped by RT-PCR. Norovirus was detected by End Point RT-PCR and nucleotide sequencing. RESULTS: A total of 290 children (48% in the emergency department and 52% in the outpatient department of the children respectively) were enrolled. Rotavirus infections were detected in 78 (27%) and norovirus infections in 30 (10%). Rotavirus genotypes included G1P[8] (55%), G9P[8] (21%) and G2P[4] (12%) with G12 comprising 3% of strain types. The main norovirus genotype was GII.4 (27%) with >10 other genotypes detected. CONCLUSIONS: Rotavirus and norovirus infections are common causes of gastroenteritis in Yemen. Rotavirus vaccines could play a significant role in the control of acute childhood diarrhoea in this setting.