Rotavirus infection is a major cause of severe acute gastroenteritis among infants and children all over the world¹ with winter out-breaks of diarrhea in temperate and cooler parts almost round the year. However, this varies in different part of India.^2-6 Diarrhea is a major cause of under-5 mortality, contributing to approximately over 1,50,000 infant deaths in our country per year.^15,16 Different genotypes have been identified and many more are emerging by way of mutation, genetic shift and genetic drifts. Rotavirus are classified antigenically as A (Most common), B, C, D, E by ELISA and genotypically as G (1 through 12) and P (1 through 8) by Reverse Transcriptase PCR, in combinations.

Stool samples of 110 infants and children from 6 to 60 months of age, with suspected viral diarrhea over one year period were studied for serotypes and genotypes; and compared for their respective disease severity.

Thirty-four percent were found positive for Rotavirus-A by ELISA. Of the positive, 33.4% were found to be of G9 genotype, much higher than reported from other parts of the country. On the other hand, merely 13.6% of G1 and G4 each were detected, contrary to high prevalence elsewhere. On electropherotyping, the long-arm types were associated with more severe disease (64.6% showing moderate to severe dehydration) than their short-arm types (Only 16.6% showed moderate dehydration only) p < 0.009. No difference in incidence of severe dehydration between AD positive for Rotavirus (11.7%) and those found negative (11.8%), presumably due to other viruses, after excluding invasive diarrhea.

Emergence of diverse strains, i.e. more of G9 and G12 genotypes than earlier reports of G1 and G2 types indicate considerable genetic shift in the region. Such trend could have significant implication on degree of seroconversion from currently used live vaccines, using G1 or bovine reassortant G1-3 strains only, seen in recent studies from Africa and Malayi.²⁹ Contrary to claims that Rotavirus diarrhea usually threatened severe diarrhea, no significant difference in incidence of severe diarrhea was observed between Rotavirus positive and Rotavirus negative acute diarrhea.

Mohanty NC, Agrawal N, Kadam NN, Shamim A, Thakur M. Types of Rotavirus Causing Acute Diarrhea among Children in Western India, their Demographic Pattern and Disease Severity. MGM J Med Sci 2014;1(3):105-111.

Warrier JS, Deshpande AK, Athavale PP, Bagal UR, Rajput M, Jindal GD. Peripheral Pulse Morphology for Early Detection of Coronary Artery Disease. MGM J Med Sci 2014;1(3):112-116.

Pai G, Dayal N, Shettigar CD, Patil P, Thakur M. Microwave Assisted Biosynthesis of Silver Nanoparticles by Aqueous Extract of Ocimum Sanctum (Tulsi).MGM J Med Sci 2014;1(3):117-120.

Siebert AE. Potential Role of Estrogen Metabolite 2-Methoxyestradiol in Health and Disease. MGM J Med Sci 2014;1(3):121-125.

Singla SK, Raja A, Nala N, Chauhan MS, Manik RS, Palta P. Hand-made Cloning: A Guide for Cloning Water Buffaloes. MGM J Med Sci 2014;1(3):126-131.

Kaur D, Ajinkya S, Ghildiyal R. Pathways to Psychiatric Care. MGM J Med Sci 2014;1(3):132-133.

Bhartiya D. Stem Cells Cloning and Therapeutic Potential. MGM J Med Sci 2014;1(3):134-138.

Rao AJ. Regulation of Growth and Function of Lifeline Placenta. MGM J Med Sci 2014;1(3):139-142.

ACA: Anterior cerebral artery; ASV: Anti snake venom; CNS: Central nervous system.

Sebastine C, Athale N, Ghanekar J, Hegde S. Anterior Circulation Stroke Following Snakebite: A Rare Presentation. MGM J Med Sci 2014;1(3):143-145.